Who is Mrs. Beaver from A Handful of Dust and what is their importance?

Mrs. Beaver is a lady of all trades and an undeniable opportunist. She runs an antique business but is known for accommodating anything anyone might need for their home. Like her son, she is a social climber but no necessarily liked by anyone. Mrs. Beaver finds a way to insert her services in any situation. Her most tacky display of this trait is trying to use Tony's death to get a contract on work on the church and on his memorial stone at the Hetton Estate.