Tragic Newport gran's family tell of 'loving and dedicated woman' (From South Wales Argus)

Tragic Newport gran's family tell of 'loving and dedicated woman'

9:22am Tuesday 8th January 2013 in News By Natalie Crockett

FAMILY of a missing Newport grandmother found dead in the city centre on Sunday described her as a loving and dedicated woman.

Penny Elliott, 63, was last seen in Glebe Street, Maindee, around 9.55am last Thursday.

Her body was found on wasteland near the Kingsway car park around 9.30am on Sunday. The cause of death is not yet known but Gwent Police said they are not treating it as suspicious.

Mrs Elliott’s family said she had suffered depression for the past year.

Her daughter, Ceri Duplica, 46, who flew back to the UK from her home in New Jersey, USA, on Sunday to help with the search, paid tribute to the mum of two, who was due to celebrate her 47th wedding anniversary this week.

She said: “She was a real homebody, she loved her home and her garden, she was all for her family and her granddaughter, Alyssa, 16, was the apple of her eye.

“She liked to travel, she and my father went to Gran Canaria for 15 years, they spent three weeks there every year and made very good friends over there.

“She was an extremely sociable person. She will be sadly missed by everyone.”

Mrs Duplica described her mother as an extremely hard-working woman, who progressed from a chamber maid to become head housekeeper at the former Wentloog Hotel, in Newport, before retiring around ten years ago.

Mrs Elliot went out for a walk with her husband, Carl, 67, on Thursday, and the couple stopped at Greggs bakery in Chepstow Road to buy bread.

Mr Elliot went into the shop and left his wife outside, but when he returned just a minute later she was gone.

She had no handbag, money or phone with her.

Family and friends spent days searching for her and had put up posters on lampposts and in pubs and local shops.

Mr Duplica thanked everyone for their help and support since her mum’s disappearance and praised the professionalism and sensitivity of Gwent Police officers at this difficult time. She said: “It’s times like this you realise how good people are, it’s so nice to see that.”