Margaret Bootland, 63, was deputy leader of West Dunbartonshire Labour Group but resigned on Hogmanay as her health deteriorated.

She was being treated for lung cancer after being diagnosed two years ago.

Mrs Bootland, who lived in Duntocher, Clydebank, was married to Douglas, 65. They had a son, Scott, and two grandchildren, Callum and Anna.

Family, friends and former colleagues remembered her at her funeral in Clydebank Crematorium, North Dalnotter.

Mrs Bootland, who also worked in the finance department of Clydebank College for 30 years, had Native American family roots.

Her father Jacob Shubert was a Cherokee Native American and met Margaret's mother, Grace Vaughn, when he arrived in Dunoon with the United States Navy. They settled in west Scotland.

Mrs Bootland was so proud of her heritage that on her coffin an American flag lay next to the Saltire.

Close friend Ena Williamson, from Clydebank, said: "Margaret did not go the extra mile for people, she went the extra marathon.

"She was a great organiser and a wonderful person. Hundreds attended her funeral and that shows how respected and loved she was.

"She planned her funeral and it was lovely.

"She had spoken so highly of the care she received during her illness. She will be sadly missed."

Mrs Bootland joined the Labour group in 2003 as convener of personnel and was elected to represent the Faifley ward.

She was re-elected in 2007 as one of the councillors for the newly formed Kilpatrick ward covering Duntocher, Faifley and Hardgate and became the group's deputy leader.

She was also a committed trade unionist with Unison.

Councillor Martin Rooney, West Dunbartonshire Labour Group leader, said: "Margaret was a lovely woman and a true friend. She will always be remembered as our beautiful Labour rose."

Councillor David McBride, Labour group secretary, said Mrs Bootland would "bend over backwards to help her constituents".

He added: "Margaret was a respected and popular colleague."

"She was a strong supporter of the council's trade unions and staff and believed they should be treated with dignity and fairness at all times."

Denise McLafferty, convener of Unison, who had known Mrs Bootland for 25 years, said: "I worked with Margaret for many, many years and she was an inspirational woman.

"She meant so much to me and many other people and was just a wonderful person."