Rebecca, Jennifer and Samantha Wadsworth, holding Summer Hudson, are calling for community support to help pay for the funeral of their beloved daughter and sister Lesley. 84612 Picture: MEAGAN ROGERS
By Bridget Cook
A CRANBOURNE mother in mourning may be forced to file for bankruptcy as she is unable to afford the bill for her daughter’s funeral.
Cranbourne West’s Jennifer Stirling-Wadsworth lost her beloved eldest daughter Lesley on 24 June this year at the age of 29.
Ms Stirling-Wadsworth, who is in a bad financial state, is unable to afford to pay off her daughter’s $13,000 funeral and is calling on the community for support.
The family received donations from a welfare organisation and family members and friends for the funeral but still owed more than $9000 – something they simply can’t afford.
Ms Stirling-Wadsworth said Lesley was a familiar face around the Cranbourne community having lived on the area her whole life.
“We are seeking some financial support from the community,” she said.
“I’ll have no choice but to file for bankruptcy if I can’t get that money in some way.
“If they loved Lesley and she had a place in their heart, then I hope they can open up their hearts and donate.”
Lesley was the family’s third loss in less than 10 years.
Ms Stirling-Wadsworth daughter Sarah died in 2005 and she also lost her husband Keith almost 10 years ago, 22 days after his 50th birthday.
Lesley was a mad Melbourne Football Club fan and attended Rangebank Primary School and Lyndhurst Secondary College.
Ms Stirling-Wadsworth said her daughter Lesley was one in a million.
“We’ll never see another person like Lesley in our lifetime,” she said.
“She had a heart of gold and would do anything for anyone.
“She was very much loved in the community.
“No matter where she went or who she met, they adored her.
“Even people she didn’t know well, she managed to touch there heart in some way.”
Lesley was born with Klippel-Feil syndrome, a bone disorder characterised by the abnormal joining of two or more spinal bones in the neck.
She was also born with talipes and at the age of 12 found out she suffered from a restricted lung disease and battled multiple bouts of pneumonia.
Lesley died of respiratory failure, ICU myopathy, viral pneumonia, multiple organ failure and from her Klippel-Feil syndrome.
“The worst part was the only organ functioning was her brain,” Ms Stirling-Wadsworth said.
“That makes it so much harder for us, that she was aware of what was going on.
“It breaks our heart.”
Ms Stirling-Wadsworth said Lesley’s death took a huge toll on the family.
“It was gut-wrenching for me to lose my second daughter,” she said.
“My heart goes out to any parents who have lost children.”
A devastated Ms Stirling-Wadsworth said she had to put her pride aside, and seek help from the community to pay off Lesley’s funeral.
“I hope that community can help in some way,” she said.
Her daughter Rebecca, would like to move back home to support her mother with the rental payments but has only recently started a new lease at her Pakenham home and was unable to get out of it.
If you’re willing to assist the family call Ms Stirling-Wadsworth on 5995 5348 or 0404 000 935.
