A CARING woman who devoted her life to helping people with dementia has died just weeks before a new advice centre is to open in Burnley.
Mrs Jacqueline Kerr has died aged 49 from cancer.
The former Towneley High School pupil was chairman of Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale branch of the Alzheimer's Society and was looking forward to the opening of the new Dementia Information Support Centre in Yorkshire Street.
A community mental health nurse in Burnley and Rossendale for years, Mrs Kerr helped set up the local Alzheimer's Society and set up an advice telephone line, which she ran from her bedroom.
Mrs Kerr, who lived in Crawshawbooth, leaves daughter Rebecca, dear friend Andrew, mother Ruby, sisters Christine and Marilyn and brothers Raymond and John.
In December, she gained a degree in dementia care from Bradford University.
Friend Mrs Dawn Haworth said: "Jaki always put other people first and her voluntary work for the Alzheimer's Society underlined this."
The centre, which opens on Wednesday in the Rachel-Kay Shuttleworth Building in Yorkshire Street, will help carers of people with dementia by giving them someone to talk to and offering advice. It will be open two afternoons weekly, from 2 to 5-30 p.m.
Mrs Carole Waring, who has taken over as chairman of the branch, said: "Jaki was totally devoted to helping people with mental health issues, young and old."
Mrs Kerr's funeral took place on Wednesday at Burnley Crematorium and a celebration of her life to raise funds for Pendleside Hospice and the Alzheimer's Society will be held at Burnley Cricket Club on June 21st.
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