Family, friends and colleagues have paid tribute to a guardian of Bermuda’s heritage after the passing of Elfrida Chappell.

Mrs Chappell, who celebrated turning 100 last year, was remembered as a “heroic woman” with a passion for conservation: she donated more than $1 million to local organisations.

She was a great supporter of groups including the Bermuda National Trust, the Audubon Society and the Garden Club of Bermuda.

Her eldest grandson Jonathan Ingham said: “I can’t tell you how many times people have used the word ‘lady’ when describing Elfrida.

“She conducted herself with grace and class at all times. Her contributions to Bermuda are enormous. Throughout her life she donated very generously to charities in and out of Bermuda.”

Speaking of her donation of an 8.7-acre swathe of land to the Audubon Society, he added: “She wanted this property preserved for future generations of Bermudians to cherish and enjoy open spaces and the wildlife of Bermuda.

“This is heroic. We live in a time when the common motto is to maximise the profits from one’s assets.

“She was above that motto and chose to give for the betterment of Bermuda.”

Mrs Chappell, who was awarded an MBE in 1999, established the Alfred Blackburn Smith Nature Reserve in 2002 as a gift to the Audubon Society in memory of her father.

Her aim was to contribute to the preservation of Bermuda’s natural coast, native flora and bird life. The land stretches along South Shore at the Coral Beach Club.

David Wingate, a founding member of the society who still sits on the executive committee, said: “Elfrida was the most remarkable woman in every respect and certainly from the point of view of the Audubon Society.

“Her gift of prime coastal land to this society so clearly demonstrated her dedication to conservation on the Island. She put her money where her heart was.

“This was a huge donation by Audubon’s standards — this was greater than any other gift the society has received by that extraordinary donation.

“We are very sorry at her passing. It is the end of an era in a sense.”

In the same year, Mrs Chappell was named as the winner of the Bermuda National Trust’s Silver Palmetto Award for her contribution to Bermuda’s heritage.

This followed her move to open her Paget house Mount Pleasant to the public for a trust fundraising event. Working with the trust, she was instrumental in helping it to improve woodland management in Bermuda.

Tim Marshall, president of the BNT, said: “Mrs Chappell was a great friend of the BNT and did fantastic work to raise funds and awareness for the purchase of open space habitats which are reserved for the benefit and enjoyment of all Bermudians.

“She will be sadly missed but when you see a natural habitat chances are you will experience a little of her passion and spirit.”

Mrs Chappell also served on the executive committee of the Garden Club of Bermuda for 15 years and was president from 1965 to 1967. In 2013, she won the organisation’s coveted Bermuda Trophy. Anna Fulton, the president, said: “Elfrida was passionate about horticulture in general and always able to see the whole picture. Her knowledge and interest in gardening was phenomenal.”

Aside from her work in conservation, Mrs Chappell represented Bermuda in the World Team Amateur Golf Championships and was an active member in the early days of golf in Bermuda.

She and other members of her family founded the Coral Beach and Tennis Club and they developed the Coral Beach Property as well as Horizons and Cottages, The Newstead and Waterloo House. Mrs Chappell’s family trust also donated Winslow Homer’s famous Bermuda painting Inland Water to Masterworks, helping to put the Island on the map.

She was originally married to the late George Wardman with whom she had two children, George and Gillian. After his death she married Robert Chappell who has also passed.