A dedicated supermarket freezer manager has been honoured after her ashes were placed beneath the foundations of its new building.

For 30 years, Dianne Hodson worked as the freezer manager at New World in Stoke, near Nelson.

Described as dedicated, kind, and possessing a quiet strength, Hodson had started with work experience at the store before working her way up to a management role, cycling to work daily.

But after Hodson died from Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a form of blood cancer, at the end of last year, the store decided to ensure that her legacy would live on.

Owner and operator Brendon Rae told the Herald that Hodson was “one of the most passionate and dedicated people you’ve ever met in your life” who had committed so much of her life to the store.

Rae said it had been disappointing that Hodson wouldn’t be able to see the new building after she had committed so much of her life to New World Stoke.

“We had actually asked Dianne about the idea before she passed away, when she was unwell,” Rae said.

Hodson was keen on the idea, Rae said, and after her death, the store approached her family.

“We spoke to the family about honouring Dianne, and we came up with the idea of actually placing some of Dianne’s ashes in the foundation of our new building,” Rae said.

With the blessing of Hodson’s family, a small cylinder of her ashes was placed within the foundations of the new store where the freezers will be located.

Dianne Hodson liked the idea of burying some of her ashes under New World's new supermarket in Stoke.

In a post to social media, the store wrote it was “a deeply meaningful way for her to remain a part of the place she gave so much of her life to”.

“As we build the future of our store, it feels only right that Dianne is forever a part of it,” the post read.

“We know many in our community knew Dianne, worked alongside her, or shared a conversation with her over the years.

“We invite you to join us in remembering her and the incredible contribution she made to the New World Stoke family.”

Dianne Hodson's family agreed to have a cylinder of her ashes set in the foundations.

But Hodson will not be the only employee honoured at the new store.

Loss prevention manager Julie Schofield died just six weeks before Hodson, and will have her ashes placed at the front of the new building with the permission of her family.

“We figured it was only right that Julie’s ashes are placed in the entranceway of the new store so that she can watch people as they come and go from the store,” Rae said.

He said the deaths of both women had brought the team together.

“I was amazed at how well everyone supported each other and brought us even closer together while we navigated that very emotional time,” he said.

Hodson’s ashes were placed beneath the store two weeks ago, while Schofield’s will be placed during construction in October.