Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Guard of honour for Kirsty
IAN BUNTING
A healthcare support worker who passed away from the coronavirus, shortly after taking up a post in the Covid-19 assessment centre at Airdrie health centre, received a guard of honour during her emotional farewell service.
The funeral cortege for Kirsty Jones was met with a round of applause at University Hospital Wishaw, where she worked for more than two decades, last Monday, May 4.
The guard of honour was organised at the request of mum-of-two Kirsty’s family as so few people could attend the funeral given current restrictions on public gatherings.
Anne Leitch, chief of nursing services at University Hospital Wishaw, said: “This was a very fitting tribute to a much loved colleague and friend.
“It gave staff the chance to pay their last respects and showed the family how highly regarded Kirsty was.”
Kirsty joined NHS Lanarkshire as a clinical support worker straight from school at the age of 17.
She dedicated her whole working life to caring for patients and their relatives, including recently taking up a position in the assessment centre in Airdrie health centre to help in the frontline response against the coronavirus pandemic, before her untimely death at the age of 41 from Covid-19 on April 20.
Staff from the hospital and other emergency services lined the main road in the hospital grounds to clap their hands as the procession passed by.
Anne added: “From everyone at the hospital, and across NHS Lanarkshire, I would like to extend our sincere condolences to Kirsty’s family.”
Kirsty leaves behind her husband Nigel and two sons Sam, 14, and Finlay, four.
Paying tribute to his beloved wife following her passing, Nigel said: “Kirsty devoted her life to caring for others.
“She was a wonderful wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend and nurse.
“Kirsty was larger than life itself and was a constant source of happiness for all who were around her.
“She was so proud of her two sons, Sam and Finlay, and loved them both very, very much.
“Kirsty will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
“A void has opened in our hearts that will never be filled.”