Father-of-two David Chivers has paid tribute to his beautiful smiling wife and the dedicated nurses that cared for her as she battled with cancer.

Carol Chivers, 41, of Dauntsey Road, Great Somerford, died at home on February 8 after being diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2003.

Friends and family gathered for her funeral at the Church of St Peter and St Paul on Friday.

Mr Chivers, 40, said: "The service went as well as can be expected and there were a lot of people there who came to show their support."

Among the congregation were three nurses from Dorothy House who provided a hospice at home service in the last few months of Mrs Chivers' life.

Mr Chivers, who has a 12-year-old son, Jack, and a ten-year-old autistic son, Patrick, said: "I never planned to be a widower at 40 but the help I've got from Dorothy House has been invaluable. They really give you the confidence that if something was to happen then you've got someone there who knows what they're talking about and that is worth it's weight in gold."

Mrs Chivers, who worked as a dental hygienist in Chippenham High Street, had surgery and reconstructive surgery in December 2003 followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy at the Royal United Hospital in Bath. In October 2004 the family enjoyed a holiday to Disneyland in Florida but last April the cancer reappeared in her liver. Further chemotherapy followed as well as receiving the drug Herceptin.

Mr Chivers said: "Carol did actually respond quite well to the drug and with a lot of these discussions that have been going on recently you can see that if you scratch below the surface it's all about money. But I don't think you can put a value on somebody's life."

In October the cancer moved to Mrs Chivers's brain and the family knew that time was running out for her.

Two days before Christmas Mrs Chivers was able to leave hospital and be at home thanks to the home service run by Dorothy House. It meant the family, who have lived in the village for four years, could be together.

"Despite knowing it's coming and no matter how much you try and prepare yourself you can't ever be fully prepared for it in the end but Dorothy House did everything that was humanely possible," said Mr Chivers.

Mr Chivers, who hopes to soon return to work for the International Baccalaureate Organization, said his autistic son Patrick had little concept of death but that Jack had been brave.

"He's put a very brave face on despite the fact that it obviously hurts a lot and he's just managed to go back to school."

He is hoping to take Jack away on a holiday soon. He said of his wife: "She was beautiful both physically and in character, intelligent, interesting and interested and a great listener.

"She was very caring, kind and compassionate and always smiling. Most of the cards I've had all say how they remember her as smiling.

"Cancer is a very cruel disease that has no respect for age but I'm incredibly grateful to Dorothy House for all they did."