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

Maurice Hugo
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


Announcing the death of a family member is a time-honoured tradition for family and loved ones - and 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 Rossendale section in Funeral Notices online. You can search by names, date range, and filter by time or alphabetically.

Here is a list of those whose funeral notices have appeared over the last week. Our thoughts go out to all friends, family and loved ones.

You can leave your tributes in the comments below

Dorothy Walmsley

Dorothy Walmsley, of Haslingden, passed away on September 7 at Royal Blackburn Hospital, aged 84.

Loving wife of the late Stephen and loving mother of Mark, Andrew and Martin, she also leaves behind daughter-in-laws Alison and Amanda, grandchildren Rebecca, Thomas, Joe, Bradley, Jack and Matthew and great grandchildren Evie, Keegan and Henry.

Dorothy loved spending time with her family and enjoyed sewing and painting. Her funeral takes place on Monday, September 23, at St Mary’s Church at 10am.

Donations in Dorothy’s memory are welcomed for Alzheimer’s UK. Enquiries to Georgina Ormrod at Johnson Durning Woods Funeral Service.

Frank Ireson

Frank Ireson
Frank Ireson

Frank passed away on September 11 at Royal Blackburn Hospital, aged 81.

Frank worked at Rossendale Combining Company as a machine operative, and later at Graham and Brown where he was a pattern cutter. In his earlier years Frank was a professional footballer playing for Notts County and Bolton Wanderers.

Frank was a keen Blackburn Rovers fan, and enjoyed playing cricket, bowls and football. He enjoyed reading, horse racing and going on holiday.

Husband to Diane, father to Alan, and the late Stephen. Father-in-law to Sharon. Grandad to Stephanie, Sophie, Megan, Georgia, Ben and Luke and great grandad to five. A loving brother-in-law and uncle.

Led by Celebrant Andrea Robinson, the funeral service will take place on Monday, September 23, at Burnley Crematorium at 10am. Family flowers only please with donations if desired to Cancer Research.

Donations can be made online to: www.fredhamer.co.uk Funeral Director: Dawn Winfield Dip L.M. B.I.F.D. Fred Hamer Funeral Service, James Street, Rawtenstall, BB4 7NE

Harry Mayer

Harry Mayer
Harry Mayer

Harry Mayer, of Helmshore, passed away on September 10 at Royal Blackburn Hospital, aged 92.

Harry was born and raised with his two sisters in Manchester. He worked as a mechanical apprentice, and joined the British Army in 1949, enlisting in the Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers (REME), and shortly after left for Egypt with the 4th Royal Tank Regiment, whose role was the protection of the Suez Canal.

He didn’t return to the UK for almost three years following many exploits, and having learned to drive a tank before he could drive a car. He immediately volunteered (unwisely) to join the 1st Royal Tank Regiment who were fighting in Korea.

The war was in its closing stages but was quite brutal. The cold was such that soldiers had to sleep with their rifles in their sleeping bags, and all the tanks had to be moved every two hours through the night to prevent the tracks freezing.

After seven months, Harry’s jeep was hit by an enemy shell whilst carrying tank ammunition to the front line. The driver was killed, but luckily Harry escaped with injuries that were treated in an Army field hospital – a place he said he never wished to return.

After leaving Korea, he was posted back to the Middle East, and finally returned home in 1954. Shortly afterwards he met Sylvia at a concert party of which they were both members.

They married in 1957 and it was to be a long and happy marriage. He joined the Royal Insurance as an engineer and remained there until retirement 30 years later.

He enjoyed his job, although it was never as exciting as fixing tanks in the desert! He, Sylvia and their two sons moved to Helmshore in 1968.

He was a keen cyclist all his life, loved gardening, and he and Sylvia enjoyed travelling and walking. He was a member of Rossendale Golf Club for 30 years, and by his own admission remained utterly hopeless at the game.

He leaves Sylvia his wife of 67 years, sons Stuart and Peter, daughters-in-law Julie and Beverley, sister Jean, and grandchildren Reece and Tess. Harry’s funeral will take place at Accrington Crematorium on Wednesday, September 25, at 1pm.

Family flowers only, donations are welcomed for Rossendale Hospice. Enquiries to Georgina Ormrod at Johnson Durning Woods Funeral Service.

Barry William Wilde

Barry Wilde
Barry Wilde

Barry Wilde, of Helmshore, passed away peacefully at Pendleside Hospice on September 10, aged 77 years.

Barry was an industrial chemist, and for ten years before retirement he was the Senior Laboratory Technician at St Matthew’s RC High School in Moston, Manchester, a job he loved. Barry was a lifetime supporter of Manchester United and was a season ticket holder for many years.

He also enjoyed caravan and campervan holidays in this country and in Europe. During retirement, Barry enjoyed learning to play the trumpet and was welcomed as a member of Rossendale Valley Sounds Concert Band.

He was also a member of Parkwood Tennis Club. Barry was a loving husband to Christine and a proud uncle to Gary, Darren and Vicky, and their families.

He was very close to his many cousins in Northumberland, especially Keith, and his cousin Les in North Wales. His funeral service will be conducted by Father MJ Broadley on September 26 at St Mary’s RC Church, Haslingden, at 11am and then at Burnley Crematorium at 12.15pm.

Family flowers only, but donations, in memory of Barry, can be made to Pendleside Hospice, Burnley. Donations can be made online: www.fredhamer.co.uk (tributes and donations).

Dawn Winfield Dip F.D. L.M. B.I.F.D. Fred Hamer Funeral Services, James Street, Rawtenstall, BB4 7NE.

Barry Steward

Barry Steward
Barry Steward

Passed peacefully at Dove Court Nursing Home on September 9, aged 86 years.

Barry was a printer all his life, mainly in Burnley and after retirement he volunteered at Burnley Hospital for several years. He enjoyed gardening, caravaning, reading and computing and spending time with his family.

He also enjoyed Haven holidays at Prestatyn, and walking, especially over Cowpe Lowe. Barry was an ex- member of Waterfoot Forward (chairman), and ex-member of North West Region of the Camping and Caravaning Club.

Husband of the late Linda. He leaves stepdaughter and stepsons, Brian, Deborah and David and grandson Omar.

Led by Humanist Neil Overton, his Celebration of Life will take place on Tuesday, September 24, at Burnley Crematorium at 12.15pm. Flowers are welcome.

Funeral Director: Dawn Winfield Dip F.D. L.M. B.I.F.D. Fred Hamer Funeral Services, James Street, Rawtenstall, BB4 7NE.

Ann Lewis

Ann Lewis
Ann Lewis

Ann, of Rawtenstall, passed away on Thursday, September 5, at Royal Blackburn Hospital, aged 75.

During her life, Ann enjoyed gardening, dried flower arrangements, cooking and baking. She also enjoyed watching tennis and rugby.

Ann leaves husband John, son Terry, daughter- in-law Maggie and grandchildren Kelly, Jack, Josh and Dominic, grandson-in-law Scott, grandaughter-in-law Jentah, and great grandchildren Harry, Amelia, Harley, Jacob, Isaac and Kian. Sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, cousins, nieces and nephews and many friends.

Led by Celebrant Neil Overton, the service will take place on Tuesday, October 1, at Burnley Crematorium at 11.30am, after she leaves Hardman Avenue at 10.45am. The family requests to wear something blue.

Flowers are welcome. Funeral Director: Dawn Winfield Dip F.D. L.M. B.I.F.D. Fred Hamer Funeral Services, James Street, Rawtenstall, BB4 7NE.

Maurice Hugo

Maurice Hugo passed away on September 11 at Rossendale House Care Home, aged 81.

Maurice was a mechanic by trade and spent most of his working life in the motor industry, retiring from J.A.Tailor Ford. His hobbies included skiing, DIY and gardening, but his life-long passion was anything to do with cars.

Maurice was a member of the scouting movement, Rossendale Ski Club, Jaguar Drivers club and Goodwood Road Racing Club. He leaves his wife Liz, children Paul and Suzanne, grandsons Ryan, Callam, Macauley, Nathan, Ciaran and Jack, great grandchildren Nathan and Sophie, sister Sylvia, and brothers Jim and Victor.

Led by Reverend Sanuel Hameem, his funeral service will take place at St Mary’s Church, Rawtenstall on September 30, at 11am. Family flowers only please.

Donations if desired to Alzheimer’s Society. Donations can be made online: www.fredhamer.co.uk (tributes and donations)

Dawn Winfield Dip F.D. L.M. B.I.F.D. Fred Hamer Funeral Services, James Street, Rawtenstall, BB4 7NE.

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