Friends of Margaret Melvin were determined that her final send-off would not be a lonely one.
When they discovered she had died and was being given a “pauper’s funeral”, they rallied round to give her the goodbye she deserved.
Affectionately known as “Muggy”, Margaret was a familiar face at a Dundee retirement complex.
And — determined to honour her memory — dozens of tenants turned out at the graveside to sing at her final resting place.
The 72-year-old died on November 4 at her home in Ballindean Place.
Her death is thought to have been caused by a stroke.
Although she was a tenant of Dundee City Council, Margaret — who had no family and had learning difficulties — spent much of her time in the Bield Retirement Housing complex in Ballindean Place.
Some of the residents there claim they were “left in the dark” about her death and subsequent funeral arrangements.
Joan Lawson, a tenant of Bield’s for 10 years, said she has been left “heartbroken” by the way the funeral was handled.
She said: “There was no way our residents would have seen her buried like that with no one there.”
Friends of Margaret found out on Tuesday that she was to be buried at Birkhill Cemetery on Thursday in a national assistance or “pauper’s” funeral.
Dundee City Council pay to bury someone when there are no arrangements for a burial or cremation when someone dies.
Up until January this year, the authority had paid to bury 58 people since 2012. None of those was left in an unmarked grave.
However, Joan said the residents would have “easily” raised any funds needed for a funeral and headstone.
Joan said: “Margaret felt like family to me. I would have her round every Christmas Day — she was a legend here.
“We told the council we were willing to pay any costs for the funeral.
“There are 50 tenants here who were more than willing to pay £100 and some would have paid more.
“So we would have raised £5,000 in a day if it was needed.
“Everybody loved Margaret.”
Joan’s daughter Charmaine Lawson said Margaret was like an auntie to her.
Charmaine said she also tried, but failed, to get information about funeral arrangements from the council.
She said: “It just feels like we never got the chance to say ‘cheerio’. She was here one day then never showed up for the bingo — it’s like we never got to grieve her.”
Joan said: “I told my grandson James, who plays for Stobswell AFC, that she had died.
“The first thing he said was, ‘how much are we needing?’.
“Everyone at the football team loved her.
“They would have helped raise funds and a few of the lads would have carried her coffin.
“Imagine if someone in your family died but then you find out nothing until two days before the funeral?
“Some of the older residents here aren’t well enough to go and stand in the cold — so they never got to say goodbye.”
Joan said Margaret was a keen karaoke singer, with her signature tune Stupid Cupid, by Connie Francis.
As Margaret was buried, the 30-odd mourners who gathered at the funeral gave a brief but emotional rendition of the song as a tribute at her graveside, as they laid flowers.
A spokesman for Dundee City Council said: “The council is looking into the matter.”