Kellie Alexander died suddenly on December 27 – a day after she turned 47 – after taking ill on Christmas Eve – her devastated loved ones called her a ‘breath of fresh air’
A mum-of-five who tragically died over the festive period has been hailed as an “amazing” woman with a “heart of gold.” Kellie Alexander, who turned 47 just a day before her death on December 27, fell ill on Christmas Eve.
Her close friend Donna Godfrey, who is now fundraising to help cover funeral costs, described Kellie as a “breath of fresh air” and an “aunty to everybody’s kids”. Originally from Scotland, Kellie had made Belfast her home with her wife Angela for the past two decades.
“She has grown up children who live in Scotland, and younger children who live here in Belfast,” Donna shared with Belfast Live.
“It was so unexpected. She was blue-lighted to hospital on Christmas Eve. We thought she would be okay and then, the next thing, she was gone. She had throat cancer a few years back but she was in remission. She did have other illnesses but we don’t know what has happened.”
Donna added: “She fell ill with like the flu, this flu that’s going around. I understand that for someone with her illnesses it can be more serious. It was so hard, even for Angela to have to get her an ambulance on Christmas Eve.”
Paying tribute to her friend, she said: “She was amazing. She was just a breath of fresh air. She was an aunty to everybody’s kids. You were family to her.
“She had a heart of gold. She would have done anything for anybody. She would have given you the shirt off her back. Kids were her life, everybody’s kids.”
Donna detailed the severity of the situation: “Their youngest is just over a year old. It’s heartbreaking that he won’t hear his mummy talk. It’s just so unexpected. Obviously, she [Angela] can’t work and it’s so hard for her. It’s just after Christmas and it’s all just hit her.
“Funeral costs aren’t easy and it’s just one of those things, I offered to do a gofundme and Angela said okay. Kellie used to work as a carer in a care home but she has been looking after her family. It’s really hard. It’s heartbreaking, especially at this time of year, it’s just awful.”
Those wishing to support the family can donate through a GoFundMe page set up for funeral expenses.
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