A father and daughter from Widnes who died just days apart are to be buried in a joint funeral service this week following processions of their favourite places in the morning.
David Morris, 50, was described by surviving daughter Nat Morris as a “gentle giant” with a “heart of gold” after Covid-19 claimed his life on August 9.
The former bodybuilder and father-of-six was rushed to hospital with symptoms in July and placed in a coma, where he remained when Nat’s sister Debbie died from cancer on July 30.
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Their funeral will now take place at noon this Friday at St Luke’s Church on Pit Lane in Farnworth, followed by burial at Widnes Cemetery at 1.30pm, and a wake at the Halton stadium on Lower House Lane from around 2.30-6.30pm.
Arrangements have been supported by fundraising appeals to ensure what Nat envisaged as an “incredible send-off” for David and a "most perfect and princessy" final goodbye for Debbie, who had lived with severe learning difficulties.
During the morning ahead of the main service, a procession will pass by David and Debbie’s favourite places at the following approximate times, setting off at 9.30am for David’s route and taking in Dedicated Fitness Gym in Huyton, 10am; Body FX, High Street, Runcorn, 10:20am; past Toby Carvery on Earle Road, 10.30am; and Asda on Milton Road, Widnes, 10.40am.
Debbie’s horse-drawn hearse is then expected to depart at 11am, passing Kingsway Leisure Centre at 11.50am; The Studio on Lacey Street, 11.25am; and Victoria Park, noon.
After the fundraising appeal attracted donations from around the world and to enable David’s friends abroad and Debbie’s friends who cannot attend in person to participate, Nat has also set up an online stream of the service, hosted by Vimeo with a link and details available on her Facebook page.
Mourners attending in Widnes have been asked to wear David and Debbie’s favourite colours of electric or royal blue and pink or purple respectively.
Writing online, Nat said: “If anybody is unable to attend the service please feel free to stand by any of the places above to pay your respects as my Dad and Debbie pass by.
“Anyone is welcome to come and pay their respects, if you are attending to pay your respects to either Debbie or my Dad, we ask that you please wear something pink and/or purple to celebrate Debbie's favourite colours, and that you please wear something electric blue/royal blue to celebrate my Dad's favourite colour.”
Thanking donors who backed the appeal, she said: “Because it is thanks to every single person that has donated, and taken the time to share their links, that they are able to be given such an incredible send off, and we thank each and every single one of you from the very bottom of our hearts for helping our family to make that possible, because without each and every one of you donating, we would not have been able to give them them both the day they truly deserve.”
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