Crematorium packed for farewell to popular cancer battler Sophie (From Swindon Advertiser)

Crematorium packed for farewell to popular cancer battler Sophie

10:40am Thursday 10th January 2013 in News By Katie Bond

POPULAR Sophie Vessey was remembered for her sense of humour and ability to live every day to its fullest by hundreds of mourners at her funeral yesterday.

The 41-year-old, of Wichelstowe, lost her battle with ovarian cancer on Christmas Day.

In her final few weeks, Sophie was cared for at Prospect Hospice and according to her partner Warren Johnson, also known as Wossa, she was adamant her passing would help raise awareness of ovarian cancer and its symptoms.

During the funeral service conducted by celebrant Mary Grace at Kingsdown Crematorium, there were tears and laughter from Sophie’s nearest and dearest, and colleagues from Network Rail as they listened to her friend Natalie Holden’s collection of memories.

She spoke about how Sophie lived each day to the full and demonstrated this by going through an average week in her life, which consisted of work, belly dancing, spa treatments, visits to London, phone calls to family, Facebooking friends and at the end of each day ‘getting home to her Wossa’.

“Sophie must be the only person to have finished the Cardiff Half Marathon twice, fuelled by Red Bull and Marlboro Lights,” she said.

“Her glass was always full. Although she didn’t have the chance to have children, she was a fantastic auntie and relished the opportunity to be a step mum.”

Shortly before she passed away, Warren proposed to Sophie and the couple were able to have their relationship blessed in a ceremony surrounded by friends and family at the hospice.

Natalie said: “Her sense of humour was an asset, I think she held the world record for being a bridesmaid five times. This was bittersweet for Sophie – she was often quoted saying ‘Always a bridesmaid, never the bride’, but this wasn’t the case.

“It would be easy for us to look back and think Sophie and Warren should have married earlier.

“However those who attended the blessing and saw the planning and excitement that went in to it will know that it gave them something so special during the bleakest time of their lives.”

During the service, a reading entitled Love, Laughter and You was performed by Warren, and music including The Blowers Daughter by Damien Rice, I Was Here by Beyonce and Somewhere Over The Rainbow by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole played, as chosen by Sophie.

Donations can be made in Sophie’s memory to the Prospect Hospice, c/o A.E. Smith Funeral Directors.

Next month, Warren and a group of friends and family collectively known as Team Sophie, will complete the Prospect 10k. To sponsor them visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/TeamSophie2