As the organist played the first notes that reverberated around Manchester Cathedral, rays of light shot through the stained-glass windows. Kath Phipps was a lady who brightened up people's days.

400 guests rose when her slight coffin was carried in. Kath's 56-year tenure at Manchester United was represented by the good and the great. Brian Kidd, scorer in the European Cup final win in 1968 - the year Kath joined the club - conversed with Paul Scholes and Gary Neville.

There was Kidd, Scholes, Giggs, Beckham, Neville, Butt, Keane, Parker, Bruce, Pallister, Irwin, Hughes, Carrick, Brown, O'Shea.

Eric Cantona sent his apologies as he was filming. Nemanja Vidic and Juan Mata's absences were also owed to commitments in Serbia and Australia. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, another one of the greats, flew in.

In a thoughtful service part organised by former club employees, there was a sweet poem about Kath's presence at Carrington. Jason Leach, the receptionist at Old Trafford, accompanied Kath to the '99 premiere at the Printworks only in May and gave a touching eulogy.

Ferguson ascended the Cathedral's steps with the aid of the former kit man Albert Morgan. "He's my helper," Ferguson chuckled. Ruben Amorim offered a polite hello when he led the United first team squad inside.

Ferguson strode up to the pulpit and thanked all of the players - past and present - for their attendance. He then turned to the current squad.

"Good result last night. Well done. Kathy would have loved that."

When Ferguson visited Kath in The Christie, she was enjoying a Bacardi and Coke.

"Have you asked the doctor about that?" Ferguson enquired.

"I haven't told him," Kath replied. Ferguson billed her as the woman who ran United.

Ferguson remembered the "sweetheart" he first met in 1986 who loved everyone. Kath asked to visit Ferguson's wife, Cathy, at the Alexandra Hospital in Cheadle when she was unwell shortly after moving to Manchester. Kath kept Cathy company on Thursday, her day off.

The most beautiful and moving eulogy was from Jonny Evans. The 37-year-old reeled off the good and the great's memories: Norman Whiteside encountering Kath with Sir Matt Busby and Jimmy Murphy, Peter Schmeichel sharing tea and biscuits with her in reception, Kath offering Jaap Stam advice on how to handle a specific striker.

She often reminded Tom Heaton that Heaton was her maiden name and buzzed in Ryan Giggs every Thursday as an apprentice to collect his salary.

Evans's first memory of Kath was of reading a quickfire Q&A in the official United magazine with David Beckham. Who was Beckham's first kiss? Kath Phipps.

Few players would walk past her without a kiss and a cuddle. "That's my boy," she would tell her boys. Scholes noticed her demeanour never changed, whatever the result. Roy Keane regarded her as important as anyone else at the club.

Earlier this season, Evans gave Kath a lift back to her home in Irlam from Carrington. He took her by the hand and guided her into the vehicle. "There'll be no stopping for autographs today," she quipped. She waved to the fans outside the training complex.

One day at Carrington, Evans headed to reception en route to the gym to check on Kath's well-being following her brief return at the start of the season. Kath had an ear infection and had been struggling to hear properly. She had joked with Evans the day before that she could no longer understand his accent.

On this occasion, Evans asked her if she was okay and she embraced him. But this time she rested her head on his chest. Evans then noticed tears were rolling down her cheeks.

He asked her what was wrong. "I can't even hear people properly, I keep getting things muddled up. I don't want people to think that I'm not good at my job."

Evans was in awe of her dedication. He visited Kath at the Christie and she still asked about the staff. One time-served employee, let go by United last summer, was still wiping away tears at the funeral's conclusion.

"She's the best on a good day and the best on a bad day," Wes Brown said.

Evans ended his eulogy by reading from the Book of Matthew.

"You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.' Kath was our light."

The rays of light suggest she brightened up another day.