Funeral of tragic mum takes place this week
THE funeral of a 25-year-old mum-ofthree who died after she collapsed as she was getting ready for a night out will be held tomorrow (Thursday).
Claire-Louise Brierley suffered from Behçet’s disease - a rare and poorly understood condition that causes the inflammation of blood vessels and tissues - but her family did not think it was life-threatening.
She collapsed on Friday, August 25, at her mum’s home in Sudden while getting ready to celebrate her brother’s 30th birthday.
She was rushed to hospital, but tragically pronounced dead a short while later.
Claire, a single mum, leaves behind three sons, Oliver, six, Oscar, two, and Jacob, eight months.
It is unclear what caused her death.
As the Observer reported on Saturday Claire’s grandma Joan Williams now tells Oliver she is a “star in the sky” and he goes out to look at her every night.
In an emotional tribute Ms Williams said: “It just happened so suddenly.
“We all thought she was getting better, her condition was improving.
“No-one thought her condition was lifethreatening.
“She had everything to look forward to. The day before she died she found out she’d been accepted for a new flat, the two youngest kids had just got into nursery. She was so happy. I don’t think it’s hit us yet. We have had so many people coming round, I don’t think we’ve had time to grieve.
“Jacob and Oscar are too young to understand, but Oscar keeps pointing at the picture of his mum over the fireplace – I think he realises she’s not here any more.
“But Oliver is taking it really badly. We have told him his mum is now a star in the sky. He goes out every night to look up at her.”
A fundraising campaign launched by family friends Caroline Sullivan and Michelle Hartley to set up a trust fund for Claire’s three sons has now raised more than £2,000.
Dozens of people have donated to the cause.
To donate visit justgiving.com/ crowdfunding/ in-loving-memory-ofclaire-louisebrierley?utm_id=92.
A fundraising night will also be held at Sudden Social Club on Sunday, September 24.
The funeral service will be held at Dixons funeral directors on Manchester Road at 10.30am on Thursday, September 7, followed by a committal at Rochdale cemetery at 11.30am.
Anyone who wishes to pay their respects is welcome.