Hyndburn funeral and death notices for special people we'll never forget

Hyndburn's loved and lost
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


Tributes have been left to remember loved ones in Hyndburn who have recently passed away.

Announcing the death of a family member has been a time-honoured tradition for family and loved ones. We have gathered the messages posted this week in one place. To see the full list of death notices, in memoriams, and birthday memoriams, then please visit the Accrington section in Funeral Notices online.

You can search by names, date range, and filter by time or alphabetically. Here is a list of those who have appeared over the last week. Our thoughts go out to all friends, family and loved ones.

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You can leave your tributes in the comments below.

Jean Mercer

Jean Mercer
Jean Mercer

Beloved wife of the late Don, dearly loved mum of Tim, Nic and Lesley, dear mother-in-law of Kay and Graham, Loving nanny of Naomi and Chris and Matthew and Elle, much loved great grandma of Isaac, Annabelle, Ewan and Nathan.

Born in Rishton November, 15 1925 to Bill and Maggie Smith, Jean attended the local junior school then moving to the newly opened Accrington High School for Girls.

On leaving in 1942 she became a student Radiographer, qualifying in 1946.

Met future husband Don at the Dunkenhalgh in 1949 and married September 5, 1950.

Three children followed, Tim 1951, Nic 1952 and Lesley 1954.

Shortly afterwards Jean started to play golf, to keep in touch with Don!

Returned to work part time, primarily at Burnley Victoria but also Christies, Manchester keeping her updated on the modern technology.

She retired in 1985 at the age of 60.

Golf was now playing a very large part in her life with success both on the course and in administration throughout East Lancashire.

In 1988 Don and Jean moved back into Jean’s family home in Rishton where she remained after Don’s death in 2009 on her own until just six weeks ago.

Jean will be sadly missed but fondly remembered by all who knew her.

Jean’s funeral service will be held at Accrington Crematorium on Monday, November 18 at 11am.

Family flowers only please.

Donations are being gratefully received in Jean’s memory on behalf of Parkinson’s UK.

To make a donation please visit champfunerals.com/obituaries or send to Champ Funeral Services.

James Lewis Miller ‘Jimmy’

James Lewis Miller
James Lewis Miller

James Lewis Miller ‘Jimmy’ of Altham passed away in hospital on November 4, aged 77 years.

The devoted and much loved partner of Sue, loving and loved brother of David and Margaret Rose, dear uncle of Jamie and Helen and their families and a respected relative and good friend to many.

A well known loved local character, Jimmy along with his partner Sue ran their skip hire business from Heys Lane, Great Harwood.

To Jimmy, his work was his life offering himself seven days a week to provide the best service possible, even in his spare time we would be off to the auctions to see if he could grab a bargain. He loved people and conversation, he could chat about anything to anyone and he was the most genuine and down to earth gent you could wish to meet.

He adored his family and he shared a close and special bond with those closest to him, he enjoyed the simple pleasures in life and wherever he went he would be accompanied by his loyal companion dogs and over they years he has given a loving home to many dogs.

On the rare occasion that he took sometime out, Jimmy loved noting more than settling in his chair to watch Only Fools and Horses, he knew every word and scene but he never tired of his favourite program which always brought a smile to his face.

Family flowers only please, donations are being gratefully received in his Jimmy’s memory on behalf of Derian House Children’s Hospice.

To make a donation please visit www.champfunerals.com/obituaries

Funeral service will be held on Monday, November 18 at Accrington Crematorium at 3pm. All enquiries to Champ Funeral Services 01254 390731.

James (Jim) Raistrick

James (Jim) Raistrick
James (Jim) Raistrick

James (Jim) Raistrick of Baxenden passed away peacefully in the Royal Blackburn Hospital on Tuesday, November 5, aged 95.

Beloved husband of Joan of 70 years, a loving father of Pamela and David, dear father-in-law to Malcolm and Ruth, devoted grandfather of Paul and Hannah and loving brother of Peter and sister-in-law Sandra.

Jim worked at the family iron foundry founded by his grandfather James in the 1920s.

A prominent Freemason and Rotarian holding many offices.

He spent many happy holidays with his wife and family both in the country and abroad.

The funeral will be held on Tuesday, November 19 at 1.30pm at St Augustine’s Church, Huncoat followed by cremation at 2.20pm at Accrington Crematorium.

Family flowers only please.

Donations if desired to Alzheimer’s Society c/o Hyndburn Funeral Services, Queens Road, Accrington.

Ethel (Tess) Haydock nee Breare

Ethel (Tess) Haydock
Ethel (Tess) Haydock

Ethel Haydock, of Stanhill Lane, Oswaldtwistle, known to most as Tess, passed away peacefully on Friday, November 8, aged 85 years.

For the most part Tess spent her working life in teaching, firstly at Hyndburn Park then later at Hollins. After retiring the first time, she was head hunted and asked to launch the modern foreign languages curriculum into many of the primary schools, including Belthorn Primary and Hippings, where she also became a school governor.

She also taught French at Heathlands Private school after coming out of retirement too.

In her spare time she was heavily involved in the Girls Brigade at Rhyddings Methodist Church where she became Captain in 1966 and was a prevalent figure within the Girls Brigade community.

She also enjoyed helping at church events, the food bank and the book club.

She was also a member of the Junior Missionary

Association, on the committee of the Hyndburn Dance Festival and attended the Blackburn & Ribble Valley Bridge Club.

Also, in her younger years she played netball and hockey for Lancashire and was also an avid badminton player, of which she still remains unbeaten in her family.

At home Tess enjoyed reading, knitting and baking with her grandchildren.

She loved spending time with her family, as well as Bella her cat.

She loved her grandchildren unconditionally and often talked about them proudly and constantly, particularly Jade, Liam and Alfie.

Tess was a dearly loved wife of the late John, a much loved mum of Dave, John, Michael and Lynne, a treasured grandma of Jade, Kirsty, Rachel, Joseph, Kayleigh, Danielle and Shane and a loving great grandma of Liam, Alfie, Dylan, Faith, Evie and Isla and will be very sadly missed by all her loving family and friends.

Her funeral service date and time are yet to be confirmed and will be placed on the funeral director’s website www.bartonhallworth.co.uk in the next few days.

You are also welcome to contact Paul or Sarah Barton at Barton & Hallworth Funeral Service, on 01254 390542.

Donations are also being welcomed in memory of Tess for Rhyddings Methodist Church, where the funeral details will also be available.

Councillor Edward Blake

Edward Blake
Edward Blake

Edward Blake of Manchester Road, Baxenden, passed away unexpectedly but peacefully on Wednesday, November 6.

Eddie as he was known to family and friends, started his working life as an apprentice, going on to become a skilled lathe turner and later a toolmaker.

After several years, he then studied hard to attain his teaching certificate, where he taught both Engineering and English at various schools in Salford and across Lancashire before taking his retirement.

Eddie was also a political activist for many years and was recently elected as a ward councillor for Baxenden in May 2024, where he worked tirelessly for his local area and was extremely proud to become the first Labour Councillor to represent the community where he lived.

In his spare time and during his retirement Eddie enjoyed walks in the countryside either on his own or with friends.

He would usually be found at the end of each day on his allotment enjoying a cuppa, writing about his day.

He was also an animal lover and would often look after residents’ pets whilst they were on holiday as well as looking after many of the stray cats in the area.

He also attended St Anne’s RC Church for many years but more recently regularly attended St Mary’s RC Church in Clayton-Le-Moors.

Eddie will be very sadly missed by all those who knew him.

A Requiem Mass will be celebrated at 11am on Thursday, November 21, 2024 at St Mary’s RC Church, Clayton-Le-Moors, prior to committal at Accrington Crematorium.

No flowers please, but donations are being welcomed in memory of Eddie for Happy Cats Hyndburn, c/o Barton & Hallworth Funeral Service, The Old Foxhill, 136-8 Union Road, Oswaldtwistle. BB5 3DR.

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