Pamela Walsh, longtime secretary to Mayor Raymond McCarthy and beloved Bloomfield resident, has died. She was 47.

Walsh, who was born in Glen Ridge, died early Saturday morning at her home of complications from cancer.

"It was a tough day. She was a special, special person," McCarthy said at Bloomfield High School's Centennial gala Saturday night. "She was a daughter, she was a sister, a dear friend. The world is going to miss her."

Walsh was seeking treatment in Germany after developing lung cancer. The township rallied around her, raising over $70,000 for the trip through various fundraisers. She is remembered by McCarthy as a cheery people-person who loved to chat.

"You would call Pam and she would talk to you about a two-minute question for 20 minutes," the mayor said.

She had also served as secretary to Mayors John Bukowski and John Crecco and was the secretary to the Bloomfield Business Advisory Board and Bloomfield Safety Council, according to NJ.com. In 2001, she received the Lifesaver Medal of Honor after donating a kidney to her brother Phil, who suffers from polycystic kidney disease.

Walsh is survived by her husband of 24 years Allen F. Walsh; daughters Kelly Allyn and Megan Alyssa; mother Barbara Schmidt Wurm; brother Philip Wurm and wife Tiffany; and niece Kaitlyn.

The family is asking that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Polycystic Kidney Foundation.

The funeral will be held on Tuesday, 9 a.m. at the O'Boyle Funeral Home, followed by a 10 a.m. funeral mass at St. Thomas the Apostle Church. Visitation will be on Monday from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. Interment will be in Rosedale Cemetery.