TRIBUTES have poured in for a popular Thornbury supermarket worker after her sudden death, aged just 51.

Pang Lever passed away at home in November 19 after experiencing breathing difficulties.

A popular figure with many in Thornbury, Pang had worked in the Aldi supermarket in Thornbury since it opened 10 years ago, greeting all her shoppers with a warm welcome and cheery conversation.

Originally from Thailand, she moved to Thornbury in 1997, having met her husband Pete while he was on holiday in Thailand, on leave from working as an engineer in the Middle East.

Following her death, her family have looked to repatriate her body back to Bangkok, where her ashes will be scattered into the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok.

The family have set up a JustGiving page in response to the community's desire to help raise the £3,000 needed to send her body back home, with £1,600 having already been raised through the page and a collection taking place in the Aldi store.

“Pang could simply walk into a room and light it up with a smile,” said husband Pete, 56.

“I remember being introduced to her and instantly smitten. I was writing to her every day when I returned to Oman, and when I returned on my Christmas leave I couldn’t bear being apart any longer, so I proposed there and then. That is why I married her.

“I have never met anyone who has had that kind of effect on me, and I don’t think I ever will again.”

The couple married in Bangkok, Thailand, in 1991 and two years later celebrated the birth of their first son Bryan, now 23. They moved to England a few years later in 1997, and to their current home in Wharfdale in 1998, with second son Spencer, now 16, born not long afterwards.

Bryan described his mother as having “an infectious personality”.

“She was always bold and colourful, and that positivity always shone through to everyone she met,” he said.

Pete added: “If we went out, she would always be on the dancefloor, regardless of the song, and soon afterwards everyone would be up dancing with her.

“She truly was a Thornbury flower and will be missed by everyone who knew her.”

Prior to working in Aldi, Pang had briefly set up a Thai home cooking delivery service, which built up a strong following in the community, a venture that she had begun looking into again shortly before she passed away.

“I have never heard anyone have a bad word against her,” said Pete. “Everyone always had something nice to say. We would be on a day out somewhere miles away and she would still be able to bump into someone she knew.”

Aldi store manager Matt Parry paid tribute to Pang, referring to her as an “absolute diamond”.

“She was such a hard worker, and so committed to the job. She was part of the fabric of the store.

“More importantly she was like a mother figure to all of us. We jokingly called her Mama and she had her own names for all of us.”

Dozens of tributes have been left among the donations on the JustGiving page.

Michael Lee said: “Worked with Pang for three years and was very shocked and saddened to hear of her passing. Such a big character at Aldi and I’m sure she’ll missed by all.”

Fellow Aldi worker Jack Morley said: “We all miss you so much Pang. Work isn’t the same without you! It was such a pleasure to know you. Rest in peace mama.”

Joanne Reid described Pang as “the face of Aldi”, adding that she was “always smiling and so helpful”.

Friends and family in Thornbury will also have the chance to say goodbye to Pang at a service in St Mary’s Church on Tuesday, December 13, starting at 2pm.

Pete added: “There are no words I can express to everyone who has been so nice and polite to my wife over the years, and to those who have spoken so highly of her.

“Everyone who has offered to donate or help Pang get home have been a great strength to my family and I. It is truly overwhelming.

“You get all these things on the TV like Children in Need and Sport Relief that do a lot of good in the world, but with a small town like Thornbury, the giving is remarkable, everyone pulls together to look after those in the community.

“I have worked all over the world and I have never seen anything like it. From the bottom of my heart thank you.”

To donate to the cause visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/Pang-Lever?utm_id=107&utm_term=j7KJGgmWE