A daughter tragically lost her battle to cancer just weeks after her dad suddenly died at work, leaving her family heartbroken.
Angela Courtney, from Huyton, received the terrible news of her dad Tony's death at work while she was preparing to spend her last Christmas with her family. In January of last year, she received the devastating diagnosis after repeated visits to the doctor.
Tony, an electrician, died of a heart attack on December 14 - just three weeks before Angela lost her battle to pancreatic cancer on January 3. Angela, an air hostess for TUI, leaves behind her partner John and her six-year-old son Jonny, while Tony, 70, leaves behind his wife Christine Courtney, 68, and three children Tony, 49, Bootsy, 46, and Beverley, 43.
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Tony and Angela received a joint funeral service at St Columba's Church, Huyton, on January 17. The family believes he died of a broken heart after hearing the news of his daughter's terrible cancer diagnosis.
Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, daughter Beverley Jeffreys said: "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 added: "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."
Doctors initially believed that Angela was suffering from a hernia after she complained of pain in her abdomen accompanied by rapid weight loss. However, this was later revealed to be the result of pancreatic cancer with Angela undergoing chemotherapy before being told it was terminal.
The 47-year-old eventually moved to Marie Curie Hospice in Woolton Village in October where she died on January 3 surrounded by family. Angela's colleagues who worked with her at TUI attended the funeral service and formed a guard of honour inside the church.
The family also asked people attending the funeral to wear purple ribbons in order to raise awareness of pancreatic cancer - £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."
Now, the family are hoping to have a plaque made in remembrance of Angela and Tony. Paying tribute to Tony, Beverley described him as a "funny and hardworking" dad and grandad.
She added: "He was a workaholic. He loved his job and he was so funny, so straight forward. He was one of those guys who would always do you a favour. He was a hardworking dad and grandad."
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