"Thanks for bringing our mum back home"

A Tameside woman will be laid to rest this week after the local community raised thousands of pounds to bring her home.

Carol Roberts, who lived in Stalybridge, was travelling home from Reus in the North-East of Spain last month when she collapsed and died at the airport. Carol was just 64 and leaves behind three children; Leila, Beth and Daniel, who now want to stress the importance of having travel insurance, preventing other families from experiencing the distress they’re now going through. 

Carol did not have travel insurance, with her family having to somehow find over £5,500 to have her body flown back to England. Carol’s friends have set up GoFundMe page to help her family’s efforts, which raised an incredible £5,775.

Carol’s funeral will now take place tomorrow (Friday), October 18 with her family and friends celebrating her life at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Stalybridge at 12.30pm, followed by a service at Dukinfield Crematorium at 1.30pm.

Celebrations will continue with food, drinks and dancing at Stalybridge Celtic Football Club. The dress code is colourful, and Carol’s family are reminding guests to bring their party feet.

They are also asking for a pink or white single flower and donations to Reuben’s Retreat.

In an update on the GoFundMe page, Carol’s daughter Leila thanked those who helped bring her mother home.

“Thank you to each and everyone of you for your kind words and generous donations,” she wrote. “The money you have all raised has gone a long way in helping us to get our mum home and it’s comforting to know that she will be back where she belongs.

“It goes without saying that myself, Daniel and Beth will be forever grateful for all the support over the past few weeks. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you!”