A bereft family are appealing for help to raise funds for their mother's funeral.

Stacey Charlesworth from Thames Avenue, Sheerness, died in Medway Maritime Hospital last month. She was only 38.

She leaves behind a young family of three daughters and a son, all aged 16 or under, and another son, Gary aged 20.

Her husband, Tony, who has been her full-time carer is not currently earning.

The appeal has been launched by her 16-year-old daughter Beth, who explained that finances were tight in the family at present.

She said: "Mum kept a savings account, but we can't access it yet because we haven't been issued with a death certificate."

Although Mrs Charlesworth had been suffering for a long time from a rare form of lung disease, she also suffered from pneumonia at the end.

Beth said: "She has been in and out of hospital six or seven times since the start of this year, before finally being admitted on the Wednesday before she died.

"Until there has been an inquest to determine the exact cause, we can't get a death certificate."

It also means that there has been no Christmas-present buying for the younger children, Summer-Rain, five; Ruby-Jade, eight; and Taylor, 13.

Beth said: "We haven't felt much like celebrating Christmas, but it would be nice to do something for the kids."

The family have arranged for a cremation at Bobbing and would also like to place a permanent headstone in the Halfway Cemetery.

Beth said: "It would give the kids somewhere to go to remember Mum when they get older. A lot has happened over the past year, but they didn't really understand what was going on and it has been a terrible shock."

Beth added: "Mum was such a lovely lady. Always helping us kids. She was very outgoing until she became ill.

"She was the best Mum you could have."

Beth believes the total funeral costs could amount to £4,000.

Anyone who can help is asked to make a contribution via her Go Fund Me page at https://tinyurl.com/bethappeal gf.me/v/c/nj66/mxtdt-for-my-mum

Or search for "Raising Money for My Mum's Funeral"

The funeral service is scheduled for tomorrow (Friday) at 3pm.

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