Kate passed away peacefully on the 30th April 2014 after a long illness. 

In September 2010, Kate was given the news that she had terminal cancer which had started in her bowel and had spread through her liver, onto her lungs and into her brain.  On receiving the news, Kate’s strength, courage and positive outlook shone through.  Kate knew that this would be a challenge and one that she would stand up to.  

Kate first had brain surgery to remove her tumours and went on to have a succession of chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments.  Her last treatment was cyber knife surgery in 2013.   Throughout this period, Kate retained her fabulous sense of humour and positive attitude.

Kate was a loving wife and mommy to Isabella (9) and Ruby (7).  She was a fantastic daughter, sister, aunt and cousin and she really valued her family.  Kate also had a great network of friends and spent her time and energy developing these relationships.  No greater example of this is her long term friendship with friends from the street where she grew up, her primary and secondary school friends, her early and later work colleagues and people that she met along her walk through life.

Kate always put others before her self.  She protected everyone from the situation that she found herself in.  For her 40th birthday, she asked for donations to the hospital rather than gifts for herself.  Her family and friends were remarkable with their generosity and we can all be proud that we made her extremely happy with our response.

Kate’s final few months of life were spent at Mary Stevens Hospice.  As soon as Kate arrived (on the 30 December 2013) we all knew that she was in a place that she would feel comfortable.  She flourished at the Hospice, as we knew she would, and integrated herself with the nurses and staff.  Kate’s room was often filled with people and laughter most of which was instigated by Kate herself.   The children loved visiting her there and this will be great comfort to them in the future.  We can’t thank them enough for the care and love that they gave Kate.

It seems fitting that rather than family and friends send flowers for her funeral, that they donate to the Hospice instead.  This would have been Kate’s wish.