Joan Hunt, 75, helped with the restoration of Stanton Road Cemetery, fought for speed cameras on busy roads and was an active member of the town's community forum as well as the police consultative group.
Also a keen amateur actress and close friend of Mr Lindsay, she took on a number of leading roles for the Ilkeston Theatre Club.
She also organised trips to London to see the Citizen Smith and GBH actor perform in the West End and in rehearsals for television comedy series My Family.
Mr Lindsay described her as a "real, genuine Ilkeston character who would do anything for anybody.
"She was very interested in the theatre and had a real theatrical streak. Many of my friends loved her," he added.
After attending Ilkeston Grammar School as a scholarship pupil, Joan worked at the Royal Mail telephone exchange, in Nottingham, before becoming office manager for a building firm.
Erewash councillor David Stephenson said: "She was the sort of lady every town needs several of – a lady who got stuck in and did things, a lady who brought an ordered mind to problems."
Mrs Hunt was a founder member of the Friends of Stanton Road Cemetery and sought the council's help in getting it tidied.
Friends official Esther Collington said: "She was a very nice lady who brought a lot of attention to the cemetery.
"She would look over it to make sure no damage was being caused. She will be sadly missed."
Mrs Hunt, of Stanton Road, Ilkeston, died at Nottingham City Hospital on August 5.
She leaves a husband Jim, 90, daughter Lois, 55, and son Brian, also 55. Her grandchildren are Natalie, 26, and Rebecca, 20.
Jim, a retired hosiery knitter, said: "Joan seemed to know everybody and was very chatty. I used to say it would take us two hours to get up South Street."
Mrs Hunt's funeral will be at St Mary's Parish Church, Ilkeston, on Friday at 10.30am with a private family service at Bramcote Crematorium.
Relatives have requested family flowers only, with any donations going to Cancer Research UK or the Friends of the Stanton Road Cemetery