Yahoo News Mum leads tributes after tragic death of 'larger-than-life' Royal Stoke worker
An inquest has been held into the death of a ‘larger-than-life’ mum-of-two found dead at her Stoke-on-Trent home. Sergeant Charmaine Whittaker was just 41 years old when she passed away due to 'acute alcohol intoxication' at her home, on Clare Street, in Basford.
Charmaine grew up in South Africa before returning to England at the age of 18 and joining the army. She served in Iraq, Iran, Germany and Afghanistan before returning to North Staffordshire and working for the catering service at the Royal Stoke University Hospital.
Mum Pauline Sanders, who worked with her daughter at the Royal Stoke, said: “Charmaine was a very happy baby. We always loved doing things together and I enjoyed watching her grow up. She had the most beautiful smile and laugh. I loved her very much. She was the best daughter I could have wished for and the only daughter I ever had. She’ll never ever be forgotten and I miss her loads.”
Charmaine passed away in April, 2023. She had been struggling with alcoholism since 2007 when returning from the army.
North Staffordshire senior coroner Andrew Barkley told the inquest: “It seems very clear to me that the cause was acute alcohol intoxication.”
