A much-loved senior nurse, affectionately known as “Mother” because of her compassion towards staff and patients at Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, has died.

Mira Satumba, 67, a recently-retired Sister on Ward 16 at Walsall Manor Hospital, died following a cardiac arrest on 16 July.

She came to the UK from the Philippines in 2000, and worked at Walsall Healthcare for 23 years, living near to the Manor Hospital.

Colleague Paige Sylvester, a Clinical Support Worker, said: “We would describe Mira as dedicated and hard-working – she had time for everybody. We can’t believe that she is no longer with us.”

She left her family in the Philippines to build a career for herself and Paige said her colleagues became her “work family.” She was one in a trillion to us all,” added Paige.

Mira leaves daughter Maria Victoria Deleon, 44 – whose mum died on her current visit to England – three grandchildren aged 23, 17 and 16 and a one-year-old great grandson back in the Philippines.

“She was a loving, forgiving mother but she was also one of a kind – she was a mother to everyone,” said Maria Victoria. “She was also a wonderful grandmother too. She was very hardworking and was well loved by all of her colleagues.”

A minute’s silence was held on Ward 16 for staff to remember Mira and support is being offered to them through the Chaplaincy – Spiritual Care Team.

A hearse carrying Mira will pull outside the ambulance area at the staff entrance of Walsall Manor Hospital at 3.25pm today (Monday, 31 July). Edd Stock, Trust Chaplain, will conduct a short service there to allow colleagues to pay their respects.

The funeral is being held at 9am tomorrow (Tuesday, 1 August) at St Mary’s the Mount Roman Catholic Church, Glebe Street, Walsall WS1 3NF before Mira will arrive at her final resting place at Sandwell Crematorium.