DYNAMIC Largs businesswoman Fiona Nardini has died aged 73.

There was a large attendance at Fiona's funeral at the Clyde Coast crematorium, at which humanist celebrant Maggie Kinloch said that although Fiona, had been ill for some years, she died unexpectedly last month.

Her family - husband Ricky Nardini, daughter Nicoletta, known as Nicki, and son Paolo described her as the "mystic mum" who had been a force of life in a busy career.

Born in Skelmorlie in 1950 to Jack and Sheenah Knox, the family moved to Largs, where Fiona attended Largs Higher Grade along with brother John.

In her teens and early 20s she was a "girl racer" driving sports cars, a fashion photographer and a dog lover who, later, bred Siamese cats.

Fiona worked for the former A.T. Mays Travel Agency in Largs, while also being a "cool" disc jockey at the former Tavern Bar, which later became Fiddlers Night Club.

She met Ricky, a director of the Nardini business family, and they married at St Mary's Star of the Sea Church in the town in November 1976. 

They were married for 48 years but together for 55, latterly living in Fairlie.

As a business partnership, after Nardini's was sold they ran Regattas bar and restaurant at Largs marina and then moved to Kingussie to run the Tipsy Laird pub.

Fiona and close friend Jeanette also opened and ran the Happy Days gym and bar, which later became Lounge, in Main Street.

In spite of suffering a brain aneurysm 12 years ago, Fiona kept her sense of humour, and doted on her grandson Harris.

She made many friends at the Dirrans rehabilitation centre in Kilwinning, for which a collection was taken at her funeral.

Celebrant Maggie Kinloch revealed that Fiona had a family secret: she always preferred Mackie's ice-cream to the Nardini brand!