A grieving daughter is pleading for help after losing her mam two days after Christmas.
Kathleen Urwin died suddenly at her home in Dinnington, Newcastle, after suffering from a blood clot. The 57-year-old was found unresponsive by her husband Gordon, 52, on December 27.
Her devastated daughter Cheryl Urwin, 38, said her mam had been fine when she went to bed. However, when her dad went into the bedroom to check on her, he discovered she had passed away.
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Mum-of-four Cheryl, who lives in Wallsend, North Tyneside, said: "As far as we were concerned she went to bed and she was absolutely fine. It was sudden, we weren't expecting it.
"I think my dad is still in absolute shock. I don't think he's come to terms with what's happened. I was close to my mam and it's absolutely destroyed me. It was a big blow.
"We got a coroner's report which said she had a blood clot in her leg and it travelled to her lungs."
Kathleen was also mum to Sophie Urwin, 28, and Charlene Urwin, 26, and had five grandchildren. She previously lived in Killingworth, North Tyneside, and the Byker area of Newcastle.
Cheryl, who works part-time as a carer, said: "She was funny and she had a dry sense of humour. She was so laid back and she got on with everyone. She loved her grandkids."
Cheryl and her family have been trying to arrange a funeral for Kathleen at West Road Crematorium in Newcastle. However her mam did not have any life insurance and they do not have any savings to pay for it.
They have been told that they have to pay a £1,500 deposit by January 13 or the funeral will not be able to go ahead on January 17.
In a desperate bid to raise the funds needed, Cheryl has set up a Go Fund Me page. She has so far received £475 in donations.
She said: "My savings all went on Christmas presents for the kids. If I knew this was going to happen I wouldn't have spent as much on them as I did.
"It is hard on families. It's a lot of money for a family to try and find - especially when somebody dies and you don't expect it. Everyone is struggling at the moment so it's added stress. It's a lot of money to be able to pull out in a couple of weeks.
"If the deposit is not paid by the 13th January the funeral can't go ahead on the 17th. It's supposed to take place at West Road Crematorium - she's getting cremated. The total cost of the funeral is £2,755 and that was one of the cheaper ones, we were getting quoted £4,500.
"I need to give her a funeral. I'm not prepared to give her an unattended funeral."
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