Residents in Olney have been paying tribute to the former owner of a local takeaway who has sadly died following a battle with coronavirus.
Melissa Cheng, who was the owner of the Chinese take-away Jade Garden on Olney High Street for 30 years until 2016, passed away on Thursday 9th April after a short but intense battle with coronavirus.
Posting the news on a local Facebook group, her daughter Jessica said: "My Dad and Mum dedicated their lives to Jade Garden and many of you in this group will have seen them every week and would count them as your friends."
"Melissa absolutely loved her customers and she always liked a good ol’ chinwag with them too. She genuinely cared for her customers and I know she will be sorely missed by the Olney community."
"We are all in pain right now but we look back to the grand opening of Jade Garden in 1986, to the last day before retirement in 2016, and know that Melissa, Jason, their 4 daughters and son shared so many happy memories there."
"Thank you to all our customers over the years and please keep yourselves safe during these tough times."
Since posting the news, hundreds of people from the local community have been paying their respects on social media.
Tanya Banerjee posted: "I knew Melissa through my niece and one of her daughters at the high school, she was a fabulous lady and always such fun. Sending love and support at this very sad time."
Bill Pickering commented: "Jessica this is the most awful news. I have been very fond of your mother for many years. Whenever I visit Jade Garden, I never felt like just a customer, but a family friend."
"My thoughts are with you, your dad and the rest of the family. It will take some time to get used to this. Your mum was such a joyful person, always pleased to see, and always looked after me."
"Though I will never see her again, I will always remember her."
Irene Miller posted: "So sorry to hear this. Your mum and dad were always very friendly. So sad their well deserved retirement together was cut so short. Thinking of all the family."
