Funeral of brave cancer victim Kathy (32)

A BRAVE, unique and colourful Hapton woman, who “would light up a room”, was remembered by hundreds of friends and family at a celebration of her life.

Kathy Morris (32), of Bridgefield Street, died from cancer last week, five months after she wed her fiance Carl in an emotional ceremony.

At her funeral, Kathy’s pink coffin was adorned with her favourite sunflowers, the same flowers which made up her wedding bouquet in February.

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Carried by Carl and some of her closest friends, the coffin was brought in to Burnley Crematorium to the sound of novelty song Star Trekkin.

Wearing bright colours, as 
requested, many mourners had to stand for the duration of the service, which minister Mr Peter Goulding said reflected Kathy’s “army of friends”.

“She was so upbeat, so full of life and she had a larger than life personality.

“The world needs people like Kathy in it.

“Even though her years were few, she left behind many great memories,” he said.

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Paying tribute to Kathy on behalf of Carl, her parents John and Marian and brother Thomas, Mr Goulding spoke of the couple’s wedding day and the moment Kathy unexpectedly managed to walk down the aisle.

“It was a magical moment. When people saw her walking down the aisle, there was not a dry eye in the house.”

Kathy’s family said she was born to be a primary school teacher and excelled in her chosen career.

Her mum described her as an “individual, unique, vibrant and stand-out person,” while Carl said she was “extraordinarily loud and you never knew what she was going to do next”.

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Half way through the service, mourners were asked to sing along to the children’s favourite If You’re Happy And You Know It.

“Kathy didn’t have a choice about how many years she would get, but she had the choice of how she was going to use every minute, of every hour of every day.

“You only have to look around to see how she did that.”

The poem When Tomorrow Starts Without Me was also read out, before Kathy’s coffin made its final journey to the sound of 
Patricia The Stripper.

Kathy documented her battle with cancer on a blog for 
Macmillan Cancer Support.