Mourners line St John's to bid farewell to community mother

Neighbours, friends and family said farewell to Amanda Lacey, better known by most as Mandy, who died last month at 61. 

Crowds gathered outside the Catholic church Our Lady Queen of Peace today (Tuesday) to remember Mrs Lacey, who "would always put everyone else before herself".

Beautiful white and black carriages brought the family to the service. (Image: NQ)Two white decorated horses pulled each carriage in purple headdresses, which brought Mrs Lacey and her family to the church at 10.45am. 

Mourners went into the church to the sounds of Elvis Presley's Pledging My Love with readings from Isiah (25 v 6-9) and the poem The Garden.

Mandy by Westlife was also played during the service while mourners left to Dancing in the Sky by Dani And Lizzy.

MEMORIES: A sweet cart was at the wake to commemorate her habit of buying children sweets outside shops. (Image: Family)

Mrs Lacey was well known for buying sweets for children outside shops in St Johns and to mark this at the wake there was a sweet cart for people to help themselves.

She is survived by her husband, Tony Lacey, and her five children, Melissa, Ben, Dan, Sammie and Becky Lacey, along with her eleven grandchildren.

The street was lined with mourners. (Image: NQ)Speaking on behalf of the family, Maggie Marrihy said: "She was the Queen of St Johns.

"It was a lovely turn out, and the family really made her proud today."

Flowers for Mrs Lacey were on show. (Image: NQ)A pink and white floral cross rested on top of a purple coffin.

Flowers for Mrs Lacey were also on show on the back of the truck during the procession to the church. 

Mrs Lacey was notable for always buying children sweets when she saw them outside local shops and would dance in her hospital bed to cheer up her grandchildren.

A cross decorated with white and pink flowers decorated the coffin. (Image: NQ)Born in Suckley, Mrs Lacey was raised in Dines Green before later moving to St John's with her husband, whom she was with for 47 years. 

The two met in the dry cleaners Sketchley and they were "each other's biggest support".

She worked in Worcester's Woolworths, Co-op, and then at The Range before she died. 

Scores of mourners arrived outside the church to pay their respects. (Image: NQ)Mrs Lacey beat cancer in her 40s, but it returned when she was 60 - her family had visited her with balloons and signs when she was in the hospital.

Ms Marrihy added: "Her beloved husband is also fighting cancer, and even when Mandy was told she didn't have long left, her main concern was how her husband's appointment had gone that same day and how her children and grandchildren were.

"That just shows how she always put others before herself she never complained, never gave up fighting and never once thought about herself."