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East Ilsley woman starts bereavement café in memory of daughter Sally




An East Ilsley woman has started a bereavement café in memory of her late daughter.

Patricia Burnett set up The Bereavement Café at the Mulberry & Thyme Café at Hillier Garden Centre in Hermitage to give people a safe space.

A cushion with Sally printed on it sits at The Sawn Pub at Compton
A cushion with Sally printed on it sits at The Sawn Pub at Compton

She will also be walking 60 miles to raise funds for Pancreatic Cancer UK.

Her daughter Sally died on November 9, last year, of pancreatic cancer which was found too late.

She was 56-years-old when she died and she left behind two ragdoll cats, both boys, named Effis and Ebo, one named after a Turkish drink and the other after a barman.

Sally's ragdoll cats, picture: sent in via Patricia
Sally's ragdoll cats, picture: sent in via Patricia

“She loved Turkey,” her 78-year-old mother said.

“I used to go with her, she had so many friends there and they would all call me mumma.

Patricia and Sally enjoyed going to local charity shops and on holiday to Turkey together, picture: sent in via Patricia
Patricia and Sally enjoyed going to local charity shops and on holiday to Turkey together, picture: sent in via Patricia

“I have lots of pictures with her at restaurants where they knew her.

Patricia Burnett with The Swan at Compton landlord Kenny Shaw who supported her with her loss of Sally
Patricia Burnett with The Swan at Compton landlord Kenny Shaw who supported her with her loss of Sally

“She worked for Sovereign on the care line; she did that for 20 odd years and had lots of friends there.”

She added: “I did her a beautiful funeral.

“I got her a horse and carriage and she had a glitter filled coffin as her house was full of glitter; the walls had glitter on them.

“She was so loved and so well known.

Patricia and Sally enjoyed going to local charity shops and on holiday to Turkey together, picture: sent in via Patricia
Patricia and Sally enjoyed going to local charity shops and on holiday to Turkey together, picture: sent in via Patricia

“She was the love of my life.”

Speaking about joining a bereavement café, she said: “It is a brave thing to do.

“People want to meet people who don’t know them and they can talk about anything.

“I had needed to meet new people, people that didn’t know me and didn’t know Sally.”

A cushion with Sally printed on it sits at The Sawn Pub at Compton - a pub which has been supporting her since her loss
A cushion with Sally printed on it sits at The Sawn Pub at Compton - a pub which has been supporting her since her loss

She is also walking 60 miles in June for Pancreatic Cancer UK.

The fundraising page can be found at https://shorturl.at/tFHX0

The bereavement group meet every Thursday at 10am.

To join, you can 07786 856440 or simply turn up to a session.



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