An ebullient and “big-hearted” PE teacher who inspired enthusiasm in all her students, Zoe O’Kelly was this week remembered by pupils, colleagues and friends.

Tributes to the former St Simon Stock School teacher have poured in to the Kent Messenger from around the world, following last week’s news of her death, with more than one former student describing her as “the best teacher” they’d ever had.

The 53-year-old was found dead alongside partner David Roots, 55, on Christmas Day, at her home in Belgrave Street, Eccles.

Police believe they may have been killed by carbon monoxide poisoning, although an official cause of death must wait until coroners’ tests are concluded.

Mrs O’Kelly, formerly known as Miss Truchon , taught at St Simon Stock School in Oakwood Park, Maidstone, from 1977 to 2005, when she took early retirement due to health problems.

Head teacher John McParland described news of her death as “a huge shock” that had “brought great sadness” to those who knew her.

He added: “She gave great service to the school. She was always very confident and developed excellent relations with students."

An ex-pupil emailed us to say she was simply one of the best teachers she’d ever had.”

The sentiments were echoed by many other former pupils, such as Stu Pearce who emailed from New Zealand to say she was an “inspirational teacher”, adding: “people as special as Zoe come into our lives only very rarely and the news of her death has come as a genuine shock.”

Others said how Mrs O’Kelly, whose full first name was Zocika, had struggled with alcoholism in recent years.

After marrying husband Michael O’Kelly in 1999 she left him a few years later, and is thought to have met her new partner David Roots while they were both in rehab.

But former school colleague Julie Stanford, who worked with Mrs O’Kelly from 1977 to 1990, said her spirit and personality had not been dampened by setbacks in her personal life.

“It didn’t stop her from having the most wicked sense of humour” she said, “She went to a convent school like me so we used to joke about it together.”

And she added: “We were both appointed together at St Simon Stock School in 1977. It was our first teaching post. We struck up a friendship from then on and in fact shared a caravan and a house together for the first couple of years. She was a good teacher and her pupils will remember her with affection.”

Others remembered her as a formidable presence on the hockey pitch, playing for Maidstone Ladies Hockey Club.

Friend of 25-years Jan Kennard said: “She was fearsome player and I think she played for the first team for a time.

“She was a really big-hearted person. She was a good laugh; larger than life. I used to play golf with her too. She could have been quite good but she used to talk all the way round the course which used to annoy some people; they told her to keep quiet but she ignored them. She never got fussy about it, she just laughed and said 'Jan’s looking after me’.”

Mrs O’Kelly did not have any children of her own. Her family are thought to live abroad.

A funeral date is yet to be announced.

For more tributes to Mrs O'Kelly and Mr Roots see Friday's Kent Messenger.