Mum, 39, dies giving eulogy at her father-in-law’s funeral
A MOURNER collapsed and died while delivering a eulogy at her father-in-law’s funeral.
Mother-of-three Sarah Healey, 39, suffered a cardiac arrest in front of shocked family members and friends.
Her heartbroken family said the nurse’s sudden death had been a “terrible blow”.
Sarah, of Staines, Surrey, went to the funeral with her partner James West and children aged 16, seven and six.
She was speaking at the service for Roy West, 81.
Her mother, Gladys Healey, of Flintshire, said: “Sarah was one of those who spoke in tribute to the father of James.
“However, she suddenly fell to the ground during her eulogy.
“It seems she had suffered an attack of arrhythmia or a cardiac arrest.
“She had no history of any heart trouble and we were all devastated by her death.”
Gladys, Sarah’s father David and her younger sister Trisha had travelled 200 miles from Sarah’s home town of Flint to Slough Crematorium in Berkshire for the service.
Gladys added: “It was a terrible blow to our family.
“It was a blow to her partner who had just lost his own father.
“It was a blow to the three young children left behind and it was a blow to Dave, me and Sarah’s younger sister, who was at the ceremony with us.”
Grief
Sarah was a nurse who had specialised in the treatment of cancer patients.
Her family said that she had also developed her own aesthetics business.
She saw clients at her clinic, Sarah Healey Aesthetics, in Eton, Berkshire.
Explaining how she has been dealing with the loss of her sister, Trisha said: “Losing my older and only sister has been the hardest thing I have ever experienced. I spoke to her daily and we had an extremely close bond that only sisters will experience.
“Life will never be the same but I find planning things with friends, talking and crying when you need to with no shame has helped.”
Sarah’s father David also shared how he is coping with his grief.
He explained that he has thrown himself into work and read a “great deal on the sudden loss of a loved one and the grieving process”.
David added: “One of the most valuable things I have learned is that – rather than falling into absolute despair – you can try to do something worthwhile in memory of the loved one.
“I think that it is important advice.”
James’s father Roy lost a battle against cancer in October.
The death of the keen gardener was said to have hit the close-knit family hard.