Leanne was a ‘devoted mam’
The family of a 36-year-old mum of two who died suddenly at home have paid tribute to a devoted family woman who was much loved in her community. Leanne Little had taken her usual trip to The Bridges on Friday, October 2, where she was a regular shopper. But after returning to her Ford Estate home alone she suffered an epileptic seizure while on the stairs. Worried about his partner when she didn’t answer her phone, boyfriend Sie Dodds, 36, rushed to her house in Felstead Crescent and called paramedics who did all they could to save the mum, but she sadly passed away at Sunderland Royal Hospital. Leanne’s youngest daughter Amelia, 13, a pupil at Southmoor School, hadbeen on the phone to her mum when she fell ill and she immediately contacted Sie to ask him to check on her. Leanne was a devoted mum and had proudly seen eldest daughter Olivia, 18, move to Newcastle to study at Northumbria University just weeks before her death. A former Farringdon School pupil, Leanne had lived with the condition since she was eight and her family and friends were all aware of how to support her when she was having a seizure, which sometimes happened every few weeks. Sie says his partner of two years, who he has known as a friend for a number of years, will forever be remembered for her friendliness. “She wasn’t the type of person who just had one group of friends, she could literally talk to everyone,” he said. “She would go to the Bridges daily as her mam is a cleaner there, so she was really well known there. "She was a really loving, devoted woman and just really great company to be around.” Speaking about his girlfriend’s epilepsy, Sie, who lives in Plains Farm, said: “The seizures had been a little more frequent recently, but we all knew what to do and to support her head when it happened. "She would usually come round and have no memory of what had happened and would sleep it off. "When she didn’t answer her phone that day, I knew she must be having aseizure.”
Leanne was close to her family, mum and dad Anita and Tom, brother Thomas, and sisters Gemma and Haley, and had a great bond with her daughters.
One of her proudest times was being able to take her children abroad for the first time three years ago when they enjoyed a holiday to Turkey with her best friend Amy Gilbertson, her husband Stephen and their family.
A service for the mum will take place at 1.30pm on October 16 at Sunderland Crematorium, but due to covid restrictions only 30 family and friends can attend.
“It’s such a shame,” said Sie .
“As I know hundreds of people will have wanted to attend.
"Everyone is so shocked, but we’ve been really comforted by people’s support.”
Due to her young age, Leanne didn’t have life insurance and, rocked by her sudden death, family friend Owen Seafield has set up a Go Fund Me page to help pay for her funeral. You can donate to the Go Fund Me page at gofundme.com and searching Leanne Little.