TRIBUTES have been paid to a former chair of Gwynedd Council who ‘who gave a lifetime of service to her local community’.

Patricia Larsen, who was one of the first members of Gwynedd Council, died on Saturday, with the council offering its condolences to her family.

A statement issued by her family on social media announced that she passed away 'peacefully' on Saturday night at Gwynfa Care Home in Caernarfon.

The family confirmed that she had suffered poor health for some time, and had deteriorated significantly over the past week.

Mrs Larsen was also mayor of Arfon Borough Council, as well as being chair of Gwynedd Council between 1996 and 1998.

A member of the former Gwynedd County Council from its inception in 1974, she represented Penisarwaun on various councils for many years.

She served as the Plaid Cymru councillor for the Llanddeiniolen ward, later for the Penisarwaun ward until 2012, and was a well-known figure in the area.

Gwynedd Council said in a statement today (November 23): “We learnt with sadness of the death of Mrs Patricia G Larsen, former chair of Gwynedd Council, who gave a lifetime of service to her local community.”

Councillor Simon Glyn, the current chair of Gwynedd Council, said: "Pat Larsen served tirelessly and effectively for her area and for Wales for many years, and will be fondly remembered as a member of the councils of Arfon and Gwynedd and especially of her tenures as mayor and chairman.”

Siân Gwenllian, the MS for Arfon who previously represented Y Felinheli on Gwynedd Council, said: “I was saddened to hear about the passing of Pat Larsen, a woman that was very much ahead of her time.

“Hers was an immense contribution not only to her local community, but to the whole of Gwynedd and Wales.

“She led the way for women such as myself in her unyielding determination and I considered it a privilege to have served side-by-side with her as a councillor.

“My thoughts are with her family at a time of inevitable sadness, but I will also be celebrating the life of Pat Larsen, a life well and truly lived to the full, and on a personal level, I will give thanks for being able to know and learn from her wisdom and perseverance.”

On behalf of Plaid Cymru Gwynedd Councillors, leader Dyfrig Siencyn said: “We remember fondly one of Plaid Cymru Gwynedd's stalwarts, the late County Councillor for Penisarwaun, Pat Larsen. A woman before her time within local politics, determined and true to her locality.

"We are grateful to have known her and give thanks for her contribution. We extend our sincere condolences to her family, in particular, our colleague, Cllr Cai Larsen.”

Mrs Larsen's family thanked Gwynfa Care Home staff for their care.