Swindon mum's ashes returning to family thanks to gift from generous stranger (From Swindon Advertiser)

Swindon mum's ashes returning to family thanks to gift from generous stranger

9:00am Friday 22nd March 2013 in News By Matthew Edwards

THE ashes of a grandmother that have sat in storage for the past year can finally be re-united with her daughter, after the generous act of a complete stranger.

The body of Terina Mackie, a former bus driver who had suffered from depression, was discovered by police in her home on April 24 last year after she took her own life.

The 40-year-old, from Castleton Road, Middleleaze, was cremated in May last year but her daughter Kirsty, who is a mum-of-two, could not afford to pay the debts to the funeral directors, based in Kingston-Upon-Thames, so Terina’s ashes have sat in storage ever since.

Terina’s friends were determined to help get her ashes back and headed to Thamesdown Transport, where Terina was a bus driver for seven years, and left a collection tin with an A4 sheet of paper explaining what had happened to her.

When her friends went back to see how much had been collected, they were told that an employee, who wished to remain anonymous, had paid the full amount, which was hundreds of pounds.

Thanks to the unknown person’s extraordinary generosity, Kirsty, 22, will be able to collect her mum’s ashes today and have them with her at her home in London.

Her friends, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “About a month ago we decided we had to do something to get her ashes back.

“When we went to collect the tin to see how much had been raised, we were told that the debt had been paid off by an anonymous person – which we were blown away by.

“It is the most generous and amazing gesture I have ever come across and we are so grateful to this person.

“It has been so hard for Kirsty through this whole saga, she has been through so much and has been an inspiration, because she has had to grieve for the loss of her mum by herself, in London, and bring up her two children.

“To now know that she will be able to collect her mum is a huge weight off her shoulders and she is so thankful.

“There are no words that can describe how we feel we just want to say a huge thank you to this person who has made the donation from all of us.

“I can’t wait to go with Kirsty today and collect Terina and know that she is free.

“Terina had a tough life and a tough end, and to know that she was in storage was terrible. Now she is going to be home.”

Daughter Kirsty said: “I just want to take this opportunity to send my heartfelt thanks for the generosity shown by such a kind person.

“I am so happy and I cannot wait to pick my mum up today and know that she is home.

“I am overwhelmed by what has happened.”