FRIENDS and family of popular grandmother Eileen Swannack, a victim of the Tunisia terrorist attack, are still struggling to come to terms with the violence of her death.

Mrs Swannack, 73, of Yatton Road, Biddestone, and her partner of eight years John Welch, 74, of Pickwick Road, Corsham, were among the British tourists shot dead by student Seifeddine Rezgui, 23, at the beach resort of Sousse in Tunisia last month.

Speaking ahead of Mrs Swannack's funeral today at St Nicholas’ Church, Biddestone, the priest-in-charge, the Rev Jonathan Philpott, said: "I genuinely don't think it's sunk in for the village. That's going to happen today.

"As I walk around the village and speak to people you just get this sense of surrealism. I was saying to someone last week, when you think of terrorism and Islamic State we think of Syria and Iraq and borders of Turkey but you don't think of Biddestone."

The service, taking place at 12.30pm today, will open with Mrs Swannack's favourite song, Come on Eileen, as her two sons Keith and Des and the rest of her family wish to celebrate her life.

Mr Philpott said: "We are going to tell some stories during the service about things that she's said and done which will make people laugh I hope. Because that's the sort of person that she was.

"The family were very keen that she was properly represented today and that the service was about her. Although the circumstances behind it are incredibly sad they want something that will be a joyful sadness to help people.

"We've spent a lot of time with the family already helping them to begin the next steps of the grieving process and I think they want that to happen today for everyone else.

"The readings the family have chosen today I think are brilliant readings. The first one is called the Sea and the Beach and it's about the grieving process and it talks about grief being a bit like a tide.

"There are times when the tide comes in and the grief you are particularly aware of it. There are times when the tide goes out and you are not so aware you're there, then all of a sudden the breaker will come in and completely catch you off guard.

"There have been moments of anger there has been moments of joy, moments of exceptional sorrow. I think it's exceptional turmoil really.

"Most of the times I've seen the family was before Eileen was flown back to this country and I think also there's a sense of slight disbelief that it has even happened but I think the moment the body came back that was the moment of reality and that's what it's going to be like today.

"We had nearly 250 on Friday for the remembrance service and a lot of the family were in Brize Norton receiving the body at that time. I wouldn't be surprised if we had at least that today if not more.

"I think they will literally want her love for life to be the thing people remember. She was a funny and mischievous person. She pulled pranks on people but she was genuinely active and generous beyond the norm and I think people want that remembered.

"To put it bluntly she died doing something that enjoyed doing. She loved being on holiday and she loves the beach, so I think when the terror of what's happened has gone away that will be want they want people to remember. It will be her life not her death."

St Nicholas is the same church the funeral of her late husband Edwin Swannack, known as Eddie, was held. Mr Swannack, who was president of the village’s football club, died aged 66 in 2005 of cancer and the couple had been married for more than 40 years.

It was after his death Mrs Swannack struck up a companionship with Mr Welch, whose partner had also died from cancer.

Mrs Swannack left two sons Keith and Des, two grandchildren and her great-grandchildren.

Mr Welch’s funeral will be held at West Wiltshire Crematorium, Semington, at 12.30pm on Tuesday.