Tributes in yellow as mourners bid farewell to Cassie
CROWDS of mourners wore yellow to say their final goodbyes to Southport travel agent Cassie Hayes.
Her funeral took place almost exactly two weeks after she was killed while working at the Tui branch in Chapel Street.
Family and friends lined the route of the funeral cortege, which carried Cassie’s coffin alongside bright yellow floral tributes saying “My baby” and “Dude”.
Cassie, 28, was orig– inally from Alnwick, in Northumberland, and her funeral was held at Alnwick Cemetery last Friday.
The funeral service was only attended by close family, with mourners asked to join a celebration of Cassie’s life after the ceremony.
Mourners were asked to wear something yellow – Cassie’s favourite colour – and the funeral procession was scattered with splashes of colour.
A solemn and respectful silence fell over the mourners who gathered to pay their respects to the mum of one.
Friends and family held hands and embraced one another.
Earlier in the week, Cassie’s family placed a heartbreaking obituary in the Newcastle Evening Chronicle.
The notice said: “Tragically, our beautiful Cassie Hayes was taken from us far too soon. Our hearts are broken.
“For all those who would like to pay their respects to Cassie and say their goodbyes, could we kindly ask everyone to gather at the entrance inside Alnwick Cemetery at 12pm on Friday, January 26, to help us guide Cassie to be with her loving dad.
“While Cassie is being laid to rest in private with her close family and friends, could we please ask those who would like to join us to celebrate Cassie’s life to follow on to the Pavilion, at The Alnwick Gardens, where a service for Cassie will take place.”
The family said she was a “much-loved mammy to Ruby” and a “much-loved daughter to Tracy and the late Michael”.
Mourners were asked to make a donation to the Samm charity, which provides support to families bereaved by murder and manslaughter.
The notice added: “Thank you to everyone who has supported us as a family through this very sad time. Cassie, you were – and still are – so, so loved.”