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A 92-year-old parishioner died after being struck down by food poisoning at a harvest dinner that left 31 others seriously ill.
Elizabeth Neuman was sick after eating the contaminated shepherd's pie, which was served at a village pub near her church.
She could not be saved, despite being taken to hospital, as she suffered an internal haemorrhage.
Just three people were left unscathed by the meal, as they opted for the vegetarian alternative.
A court learned about the party from the Holy Trinity Church went for the meal on October 8, 2018.
The meat from the shepherd's pie was found to have not been 'cooked properly' by then head chef John Croucher. it was then placed in a pan of iced water, before being wrapped in cling film and put in a fridge overnight.
The meat was then cooked again in the morning, but the temperature was not checked before it was served.
The court heard that head chef Croucher was 'rushed' and "had to leave" the night before.
John Croucher, former head chef of the Crewe Arms in Hinton-in-the-Hedges, near Brackley, Northamptonshire, admitted to contravening food regulations.
He told the court "I really hate to say it but I think I was rushed. I was rushing. Remorse is an understatement. This is something I will never forget. Because of it, I am a better chef and it is just a shame the cost of it had to be what it was."
The 40-year-old was given a suspended four-month suspended jail sentence at Reading Crown Court.
Pub owner and landlord Neil Billingham, 54, of Northampton, was fined £9,000 plus £1,000 court costs after admitting three charges of contravening food regulations.
His company, The Bobcat Pub Co, was fined nearly £3,000.
Judge Sarah Campbell said: ‘A healthy and well person died of a gastrointestinal haemorrhage induced from vomiting. No sentence I can pass can reflect the loss caused to the family.’