Kentish Express Ashford & District
‘She was a friend to everyone and lived for her kids’
Tributes to beautician and mum-of-five, 37
A devastated family has paid tribute to a mum-of-five who died aged just 37.
Lisa Rye died at the William Harvey Hospital after sustaining complications during surgery.
Investigations into her death are ongoing, with a review held at the coroner’s court earlier this week, ahead of a full inquest later this year.
She is survived by her fiance, mum, aunt and siblings, as well as her five children.
Ms Rye, who was also a grandmother to a two-year-old, had been looking forward to marrying her childhood sweetheart Richard Jarrett.
Mr Jarrett says the beautician “always gave me butterflies”.
“I always had a crush on her when we were younger,” he said.
“I was a bit of a bad boy then but it was just the right time when we met again.
“We were tasting wedding
cakes the week before she died, it was about 10 days before our anniversary as well.”
A GoFundMe page was set up for the family in the wake of the beautician’s death, and raised almost four times the original £1,000 goal.
Ms Jarrett’s aunt, Jill, said that the feedback showed the impact the beautician had on those around her.
“Lisa was a friend to everyone”, she explained.
“When the fundraiser was set up, we had so many messages from people she helped.
“One friend of hers who we didn’t even know told us that Lisa helped her through a really dark place, and encouraged her to pursue art, which is now how she makes a living.
“She was really the happiest she had ever been with Richard, and the kids absolutely adore him, which has helped in what is obviously a dreadful time.”
The 37-year-old, who had been living with Mr Jarrett and her children in Stanhope, had just achieved her beautician qualifications before coronavirus hit.
Richard said that her life was made by her children.
“She absolutely lived for her kids,” he explained.
“She would give up anything herself to make sure they got what they wanted and needed.
“She was so proud of them, they were her life - and she encouraged them in everything they did, their life will never be the same again.”
■ To view the fundraising page, visit bit.ly/3eVWC5A