A TUI air hostess tragically died weeks after her dad passed away of “broken heart”, their family said.
Angela Courtney, 47, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last year and was preparing to spend her last Christmas with her loved ones when she received the news that her dad Tony, an electrician, had died at work on December 14.
The woman, from Huyton, Merseyside, died just three weeks later, on January 3. Angela leaves behind her partner John and her six-year-old son Jonny.
Tony, 70, leaves behind his wife Christine Courtney, 68, and three children Tony, 49, Bootsy, 46, and Beverley, 43.
A joint funeral service was held for Tony and Angela at St Columba’s Church in Huyton on January 17.
Tony’s family think he died of a broken heart after learning of his daughter’s cancer diagnosis.
His daughter Beverley Jeffreys told the Liverpool Echo.: “We kind of believe he died of a broken heart because he just couldn’t see her die.
“We like to take that comfort that he died before her because he couldn’t take anymore.”
Paying tribute to her sister, Beverley said: “Angela was honestly one of the most kind hearted people, she was just a beautiful soul. Nobody could say a bad word about her.
“She was kind, friendly, she was funny and she just lived for her family.”
Angela was first diagnosed with stage three pancreatic cancer in January last year after 12 months of going back and forwards to the doctors and hospital appointments.
Doctors initially believed Angela was suffering from a hernia after she complained of pain in her abdomen and rapid weight loss.
However, she was later diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and after undergoing chemotherapy, she was told the devastating news it was terminal.
Angela was moved to Marie Curie Hospice in Liverpool in October where she died at the beginning of January, surrounded by her family.
Members of TUI’s cabin crew, who worked with Angela, attended the funeral service and formed a guard of honour inside the church.
The family asked people attending the funeral to wear purple ribbons to raise awareness of pancreatic cancer, and £900 was raised in donations for the cause.
Beverley said: “Everybody that went to see Angela, and all the staff at the hospice, everyone would say how dignified she was. She was just amazing. She never complained and she just got on with it.
“The staff at the hospice were amazing and they made her life towards the end the best it could be – she wanted for nothing.
“It’s been really awful. I’m the youngest of four, I’ve got two brothers and Angela, we’ve got a big family and we all just need to be there for my mum.
“When dad died everyone’s focus went on Angela because I had to go and tell Angela in the hospice and that was horrific. She was heartbroken.
“She was crying saying ‘all I wanted was a nice Christmas.’ It was really, really sad.”
The family will have a plaque made for Angela and Tony where they can go to remember them.