Waipareira Trust chief executive John Tamihere referred to the woman as "one of our Māori nannies" who played a large part in the running of the marae.
However, while still coming to terms with her death, her whānau were struggling with the fact they won't be able to hold a proper tangi for her.
"The family desires privacy because they're a very traditional family. They are still grieving over their inability to tangi for her.
"They're going through a very difficult process at the moment and not being allowed to bring in extended family and all her mokopuna.