Prayers have been said and candles lit as a shocked community paid respects to a woman who died after masked raiders broke into her home.
A murder investigation was launched after Joy Middleditch died after being knocked to the floor during a robbery at her bungalow on Grayson Avenue in Pakefield, Lowestoft.
Two masked men broke into the home of Mrs Middleditch, 82, and stole her handbag at some point overnight between Friday, March 24, and Saturday, March 25.
Chief inspector of Lowestoft police, Sarsfield Donohue, said Mrs Middleditch was conscious having been left "lying helpless on the floor" until she was found by her family just before officers were called about 1.50pm on Saturday.
She was taken to the James Paget University Hospital in Gorleston for treatment, but sadly died in the early hours of Monday.
With further floral tributes having now been left at the scene, a service has been held this morning (Wednesday) at the nearby All Saints' and St Margaret's Church.
Rector of Pakefield Parish Church - situated on the cliff top - Rev Sharon Lord led the service and lit a candle in memory of Mrs Middleditch.
She said the community in south Lowestoft was "in shock" at the horrific events.
Rev Sharon Lord said: "This is devastating for the whole community and especially Mrs Middleditch's family.
"As a church we will be praying every day and the church is of course open every day for anyone who wishes to come in and light a candle - and we will be doing so during our Holy Communion service.
"The police have been really helpful and supportive and they will be attending our coffee morning today and the Lent Cafe here in church on Friday morning.
"The congregation is in shock because we are a sleepy village on the Suffolk coast and people come here to retire because it is such a beautiful and lovely place to live - so shock is the word.
"So as we always do in a Wednesday morning service we always pray for those in our community who have lost loved ones and that is part of our service - but especially today we will be praying for the family of Joy."
A post-mortem examination was carried out on Monday afternoon, but the cause of death has yet to be confirmed.
With Mrs Middleditch's stolen handbag later found in nearby Nelson Road in Pakefield, her purse is still missing.
Chief insp Donohue said: "What we do know is that the handbag that was taken from Grayson Avenue was found abandoned and discarded within Nelson Road.
"However the purse is still missing from the bag.
"So what we are looking for is a black and white chequered design purse and its contents.
"We are asking the public if you have CCTV, or doorbell footage and you live in those areas then if you haven't already spoken to us then we would love to speak to you.
"Any drivers that might have dashcam footage and were driving along London Road South in either a north or south direction between 6pm on Friday evening and 7am on Saturday morning if they could also make contact please."
Det chief insp Matthew Connick, of the Joint Major Investigations Team, added: "We are investigating this incident as a murder as we seek to establish the full circumstances surrounding the woman’s death.
"This is an awful and distressing incident."
Information should be directed to the Major Investigation Team by emailing MITincident.room@suffolk.police.uk or call 101 quoting the crime reference number 37/17537/23.
Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers completely anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via the online form.
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