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Samantha Cole

A PINK-THEMED funeral filled a church in Swindon with colour and life.

Samantha, also known as Sammy, Cole had battled a terminal illness with a smile on her face all her life.

But just a week before her 19th birthday she lost the strength to fight.

She was born with the terminal illness cystic fibrosis and died in her mother Lisa's arms at the Great Western Hospital on March 13.

Her mum asked the 100-plus mourners to wear something pink, as it was Sammy's favourite colour.

There were pink balloons and pink roses as well as people wearing pink ties and tops at St Augustine's Church, in Summers Street, Rodbourne.

Sammy's best friend Danielle Weller sang Mariah Carey's song Hero during the service.

They knew her from their school days at Even Swindon and Commonweal.

"We were best friends and no-one is ever going to replace her," said 18-year-old Danielle.

"She was an angel and was definitely one in a million. We confided in each other and spent a lot of time together, usually shopping."

Sammy's two teacher-assistants at Commonweal School both described her as a lovely girl.

Karen Titcombe said: "She was a joy to be around and smiled throughout everything.

"She was such a helpful girl who would look out for others."

Sonia Buckingham added: "She never let her disability get in the way of anything. She was a very brave young girl."

Sammy leaves mum Lisa, her sisters Leanne, 22, Bethany, 10, and Millie, four, and brothers, Jamie, 21, and Jesse, 12.

The service was led by Area Dean Rob Burles.

He said: "From all that I have heard from her family Sammy was determined to pack as much into her life as possible. She will be missed by everyone."

The Lord is my Shepherd and Morning has Broken were sung and the Celine Dion hit Because You Loved Me were played while the coffin was carried out of the church.

Sammy was cremated at Kingsdown Crematorium.

12:00pm Thursday 27th March 2008

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