A ward sister who loved sick children as her own and spent her whole working life at Epsom Hospital has died.

Chrissie Casey trained as a nurse at the hospital in her 20s and the children's ward was renamed after her when she retired in 1985.

Sister Casey died at the hospital where she worked for so many years on December 3, just a week before her 89th birthday.

Her former colleague Dr Yvonne Ransley said: "She nursed and loved the children as her own and has inspired many student nurses and junior doctors who appreciated her sense of humour in the ward office."

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Sister Casey was born in Ireland, came with her sister to train in Epsom and lived in nurses’ accommodation until 1970 when she moved to College Road.

Dr Ransley said: "Until she retired, she devoted her life to Epsom General Hospital. She was the ward. The place has not been the same without her.

"It’s the end of an era when the health service functioned properly. She was the ward sister and everybody did what she said.

"When she was out of uniform she was retiring and shy. She transformed her personality when she put on her uniform."

Sister Casey was a faithful member of St Joseph's Catholic Church and accompanied sick children on pilgrimages to Lourdes for many years.

Dr Ransley said Sister Casey was very good at Scrabble, played whist and sometimes won the Daily Mail crossword. She used to ride a bicycle but later walked everywhere in Epsom.

Her funeral service is being held on Friday, December 19, at 11.30am at St Joseph's Catholic Church, St Margaret's Drive, Epsom, opposite the hospital.

No flowers, please. Donations to Casey Ward care of Epsom NHS Trust on Longhurst Undertakers Limited 8 Pound Lane, Epsom.

Do you remember Sister Casey?

Please leave a tribute below or email alice.foster@london.newsquest.co.uk