A mum was found dead in bed just weeks after the death of her daughter.
Gladys Jones died at her home in Bootle on May 9 just ten weeks after losing her daughter Sarah, 34, on March 13. Gladys didn't know she was unwell before her death according to her daughter Claire, whose family are devastated by the double tragedy.
Gladys, who worked as a carer, leaves behind her husband Steven, 61, son Steven, 28, and daughter Claire, 38.
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Claire told the ECHO: "My dad last saw her at 10pm when they went to bed - she was fine. My dad was going to work the next morning, checked on her and she had passed away."
Claire said her mum had experienced pains in her side a week before she died but "shrugged them off" at the time. The results of a post mortem at Whiston Hospital found Gladys had suffered from gastrointestinal bleeding caused by an ulcer which had ruptured in her stomach.
Claire said: "She's been on tablets for indigestion and heartburn but she wasn't aware she had an ulcer. My dad has lost his soul mate, he's been with my mum for 40 years.
"We're absolutely devastated. It's such a shock and I've spent every day with her since my sister passed away, just trying to keep her going."
Gladys' daughter Sarah was born with a number of heart conditions including pulmonary stenosis - a condition which reduces blood flow around a valve in her heart. Sarah was due to have an operation two weeks before she died but was told by doctors she was too ill to have it.
The 34-year-old died from organ failure on March 13, leaving behind her long-term partner Mick and three children - Ella, nine, Mikey, eight, and Charlie, five.
Claire said her mum and sister "had a really close bond", adding "they were always together, as we all were." She has set up a Gofundme page to raise money for her mum's funeral which will be held in Thornton on June 9.
Paying tribute to her mum, Claire said: "She had the biggest heart you could ever imagine. She was always there for anyone. Anything you needed she was there.
"She was really good at her job. We've had lots of recognition from service users and families saying how much she will be missed."
To visit the Gofundme page click here.
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