A cheerful woman who never stopped smiling and always thought of others is how her many friends will remember Sue Wilby, of Castletown, Penrith, who has died at the age of 61.
Although she did not have the easiest of lives, Sue invariably remained cheerful, was always eager to talk to others and lit up any room she entered — especially with the bright yellow coat she liked to wear. She always asked how people she met were getting on even when she was going through the hardest of times.
The daughter of Brian and Ethel Hodgson — who preferred to be called Ray — Susan, as she was christened, had a twin brother, David, and an older brother, Colin.
She grew up in Great Salkeld, going to school in the village and later nearby in Lazonby before heading to Tynefield School, in Penrith. She later recalled that when out of school she used to help on local farms, picking brambles and potatoes for a “bob or two”, which she loved to do.
It was at the age of 16 that she met her future husband Gary and fell madly in love with him.
However, he decided to move to London, leaving her heartbroken back in Cumbria, and it was not until many years later that they finally got together.
Sue went on to do a few jobs after leaving school — as a fish filleter, taxi driver, care worker, on a chicken farm, at the Magnet door making plant in Penrith and at the town’s Burtons shop.
She met Paul Reed when she was 18 years old and the couple got married in Great Salkeld when she was 19. They were together for 18 years and had two children, Neasha and Brad.
It was in 1998 that Sue met up again with Gary and they were married two years later in Jamaica. She was with her first love and they were together until his death in September, 2017.
Unfortunately, after turning 40 Sue had to retire from her job at Burtons because of a bad back. She was later diagnosed with spondylosis.
Brad was then diagnosed with leukaemia and subsequently spent a great deal of time in hospital, with Sue staying with him on each occasion, leaving her parents to look after Neasha.
Fortunately, Brad is now in good health and is married to Steph, also his first love.
Brad and Steph were married in 2017, which also saw the birth of Sue’s granddaughter Aurora, who she absolutely adored. She also had two other granddaughters, Nadia and Florence.
In her later years Sue suffered several falls, dislocating her elbow, breaking her ankle and breaking her hip. The operation to repair the latter injury did not work so she had to have a hip replacement.
After this she was confined to a wheelchair, since she had lost her confidence and was scared she would have another fall.
However, this did not stop Sue going out with Neasha — including to see musicals, on shopping trips and to enjoy a few trips to Blackpool.
She enjoyed watching films, her favourites being Dirty Dancing and Ghost, both starring Patrick Swayze. She also loved 1970s music and in particular Michael Jackson — who she saw performing 17 times — and The Real Thing.
Sue was diagnosed with breast cancer in August, 2018, and went on to have a lumpectomy and radiotherapy.
She was diagnosed with the condition a second time in October, 2022, and was scheduled to have chemotherapy, since the cancer was very aggressive. She had already had the lump taken out and undergone radiotherapy.
Sue never stopped smiling, always asked after others, loved her family and will be greatly missed — not least by her friend Hilda, who checked on her every day, did her shopping for her and looked after Buster, her dog.
The funeral is to be held at Eden Valley Crematorium on 21st April at 2pm and people planning to attend are asked to wear brightly coloured clothes and Crocs — if they own any — which were a trademark item of footwear for Sue. Richardsons Funeral Directors, Penrith, have charge of the arrangements.
