OBITUARIES
JOHN RIGBY
MR John Andrew Rigby, of Irwell Vale, Ramsbottom, died on Thursday, October 25, at the Royal Blackburn Hospital, aged 74. He was a solicitor.
Andrew, as he was known, leaves his wife Vivien, daughters Olivia and Rachel, and their families, Carl, Holly, Tim, Archie and Leo.
The funeral service will be held on Monday, November 5, at 1.30pm, at East Lancs Crematorium.
Family flowers only with donations to Macmillan Cancer Support.
Donations can be made via funeral director Dawn Winfield for Fred Hamer Funeral Service.
VERA LAW
MRS Vera Law, of Haslingden and formerly of Rawtenstall, died on Monday, October 22, at the Royal Blackburn Hospital, aged 95.
She was a member of the congregation at St Mary’s Church.
She was the wife of the late Harry and leaves her son Andrew and daughter-in-law Angela, son David and daughterin-law Christine, grandchildren Matthew, Rachel, Shelley and husband Alex, Gillian and husband Pete, and great-grandchildren Jasmine, Ellie and Isabelle.
The funeral service, conducted by the Rev Chris Casey, will be held on Tuesday, November 6, at St Mary’s, Rawtenstall, at 12.30pm, followed by cremation at Accrington Crematorium at 1.40pm.
Family flowers only with donations to St Mary’s Building Fund.
Donations can be made via funeral director Dawn Winfield for Fred Hamer Funeral Service.
NATHAN KEARNS
MR Nathan Anthony Kearns, of Bacup Road, Rossendale, died on Tuesday, October 23, aged 38.
He attended Fearns School and worked for Hurstwood Development and Rossendale Borough Council when he was well.
He enjoyed boxing, football and sports in general.
He leaves his mum Christine, his dad and brother, aunty Tracey and uncle Stephen, aunty Margaret and uncle David, uncle Mick and uncle Chris, cousins Amanda and Andrew, his extended family and his beloved dog Jazz.
The celebration of life service, conducted by Mr David Ireland, will be held on Tuesday, November 6 at 9.30am at Knight & Boys Funeral Home, followed by committal at Burnley Crematorium at 10.40am. Flowers welcome.
Funeral director: Graham Holt for Knight & Boys, Newchurch Road, Stacksteads.
IAN BROWN
MR Ian Brown, of Greave Terrace, Bacup, died peacefully in Royal Blackburn Hospital on Thursday, October 25, aged 78.
A service was due to be held at the Chapel of Rest on Thursday, November 1 at 1.40pm, followed by cremation at Burnley at 2.20pm, conducted by Mr Peter Cox.
Born in Bacup where he lived all of his life, he was a coal miner working at Hilltop, Bacup, and retiring from Golborne, Wigan in 1986.
He was involved in the Golborne Pet Disaster rescue operation.
He enjoyed gardening, walking, watching football and socialising with friends.
He leaves his wife Suey, daughter Carol and her husband John, sons Gary, Paul and Dave, daughtersin-law Amanda, Sara and Bridget, sister Hilary, brother Alan, nephews, nieces and many friends.
Family flowers only or donations in lieu to Macmillan Nurses and The Golborne Pit Disaster Fund c/o funeral director Anthony Johnson Funeral Services Ltd, Bacup.
GLADYS WILLETTS
GLADYS Willetts, of Grange Close, Rawtenstall, died on Friday, October 26, at the Royal Blackburn Hospital, aged 95.
She was a housewife and enjoyed looking after her grandchildren.
She enjoyed playing Scrabble, cricket and dancing with her late husband in their younger years.
She was a lifelong member of Woodlea Mission and enjoyed watching Rawtenstall Cricket Club play. She was a Sunday school teacher and secretary of Women Aid at Woodlea Mission.
She was the wife of the late Robert Henry and leaves sons Rodney and Keith, daughters-in-law Julie and Josie, grandchildren Nicola, Anita, Stephen and Paul, and great-grandchildren Jack, Joe, Dexter and the bump.
Prayers at the Chapel of Rest, conducted by the Rev Chris Casey, will be held at 10.30am on Monday, November 12 and will be followed by service and cremation at Burnley at 11.20am.
Family flowers only. Donations to Cancer Research UK or the British Heart Foundation.
Donations can be made via funeral director Dawn Winfield for Fred Hamer Funeral Service.
VERONICA STANSFIELD
MRS Louise Veronica Stansfield, of Gladstone Street, Bacup, died on Saturday, October 20, surrounded by her loving family, in Royal Blackburn Hospital, aged 68.
Veronica, as she was known, worked in the cotton and shoe industries in the valley for most of her life and later worked at Tesco Rawtenstall before her retirement.
Veronica leaves her husband Walter, daughters Laura, Sarah and Cheryl, grandchildren Ashley, Jade, Simon, Bethany, Jack, Alex and Blake, brothers Edward and Alan and sisters Larraine, Susan and Elizabeth.
Her funeral will be held on Friday, November 2, when Mr Damien Philips will conduct a celebration of life service at Agápe Funeral Service, ForgetMe-Not Chapel, Schofield Street, Waterfoot at 10.30am followed by interment at Bacup Cemetery at 11.15am. Flowers are welcome. Funeral director: Sharon Aspinall for Agápe Funeral Service, Forget- Me-Not Chapel, Schofield Street, Waterfoot.
JONATHAN MILLS
MR Jonathan David Mills, of Northfield Road, Rising Bridge, Accrington, died on Tuesday, October 23, at the Royal Preston Hospital, aged 52. He was a senior project manager at Caswell Ventilation and Air Conditioning Solutions, Haslingden.
He enjoyed watching his sons play cricket, rugby, golf and football and supported Blackburn Rovers.
He also enjoyed listening to all kinds of music and DIY.
He spent his last weeks at Pendleside Hospice.
He leaves his wife Kate, sons Jack and George, stepmother Mary, brother Tim, many friends and Spike.
The funeral service, conducted by David Ireland, was due to be held at Fred Hamer at 2.15pm on Thursday, November 1, followed by committal at Accrington Crematorium at 3pm.
Family flowers only with donations to Pendleside Hospice.
Donations can be made via funeral director Dawn Winfield for Fred Hamer Funeral Service.