THE FAMILY of a well-known ice cream seller who died this year have donated over £1,000 to the ward that treated him.

Pasquale Marucci, an ice cream seller from Chandler’s Ford passed away on January 11 aged 86.

He had been supplying ice cream to Hampshire families for 40 years after moving from Italy in 1959.

A well known man in the communities he served, on February 3, the day of his funeral, people lined the streets to say their goodbye's as the funeral procession, including ten ice cream vans went along the route of his old round.

Now though his family have given back to the ward that treated him in his last days by donating £1,290 so they can help more people in the future.

On Thursday, Pasquale's wife, Pasqulina, his daughter-in-law, Mary and his granddaughter, Stephanie, took the cheque to the Twyford Ward at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester to present it to the nurses that treated him.

Hampshire Chronicle: Mr Marucci in front of his ice cream van.Mr Marucci in front of his ice cream van.

Mr Marucci's son, Adrian said: "The girls were really good there. Some of them were his customers.

"He was there 10 days. Of course, we couldn't go up there either which was what made it really horrible but when they knew he was passing away they allowed us all to go there two at a time.

"Hopefully the nurses can just get something they need. Just something that Dad gave to them."

The money was raised through a JustGiving page which was created by Stephanie, Mr Marucci's granddaughter and then shared using the Facebook page for Mr Marruci's ice cream business.

The family said they originally set a target of £500 for the page, but were "overwhelmed" by how much they raised by the end.

Adrian added: "We'd just really like to thank those who donated and we're just overwhelmed by the amount of money that has been sent and the comments, it was so nice.

"We just couldn't believe the amount of people putting money in."

The money is now set to be used to buy equipment to help patients in the future that will spend time on the ward that Mr Marucci spent his last days.