Obituary: Sandra Riley

Born in Barnsley, Sandra enjoyed her trips to Wakefield’s second-hand market every Tuesday with her mum.

It was in 1962 when she first met Clive Riley, while pea picking, and their courting days began. Clive would cycle all the way to meet her.

They married in 1963 and were blessed with daughters Pauline, Tracey and Beverley.

They lived in Sharlston until they purchased their first house in Walton, where they became involved with the rugby club, with Sandra becoming the rugby lads’ second mum.

As the family grew, giving the couple five grandchildren and two great grandchildren, they enjoyed spending as much time with them as they could. In 1988, they moved to Mablethorpe, where they remained for 18 years.

As well as being a housewife, Sandra worked as a merchandiser for Mother’s Pride and in a nursing home for the mentally ill for 10 years, before retiring due to ill health at the age of 59, when Clive became her full-time carer.

In 2006, the couple moved to Wragby and joined the Wragby branch of Disability Lincs, where they enjoyed making many new friends, going out on outings and playing bingo.

Sandra always had time to chat with her friends and neighbours, having a smile on her face despite being in such pain. Becoming very ill, she was admitted to hospital.

When she was finally discharged five months later, she made it quite clear to her family that she wanted to remain at home whatever happened.

Her health deteriorated over the next two years and she lost her battle, but fulfilled her wish to remain at home with her loving husband Clive.

Sandra was a very hard-working woman and she touched so many lives along the way. She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, and will be sadly missed by everyone.

The funeral took place at Lincoln Crematorium, followed by a service at Wragby Methodist Church.

The Rev Mark Holden officiated and arrangements were made by Lambert’s Funeral Service.

Family mourners were: Clive Riley (husband); Pauline, Tracey and Beverley (daughters); Arthur and Noufel (sons – in-law); William, Ben Sam and Damion (grandchildren); Louise (sister-in-law); Gillian and John (sister and brother-in-law); Geoffrey and Janet (brother and sister-in-law); Chloe, Dale and Kerry (cousins); Demi (great-grandchild); Cliff (brother-in-law).

Mourners at the crematorium were: John Bailey; Claire Burns; Dennis Harpin; Dennis Harpin Jnr; Marion Trevor; Waine Doxey; Tressa Machin (also representing Mark and Kylie); Sean Murphy (also representing Mrs A Murphy); Pat Steel; Claire Breilin; Kathy Lowe (also representing Thursday bingo; Margaret and John Kane); Jack Whittaker; Sue Whittaker; Donna Frankish; Julie Frankish.

Names taken at Wragby Methodist Church: Pat Abbott (organist); Les Robinson (also representing Joan Robinson and Susan Robinson); Dorothy Warr; Olive Paul; Pauline Cooper; Elaine Eccles; Sheila Emmons; Margaret Jones; Ron Segasby; H Jackson; Audrey Simons; Barbara Blackburn; Bob Paul; Marilyn Moore; Joyce Knights; Bruce Scrafton; K Wright; M Hanaford; Vera Smart; Janet Box; Sarah Bellhouse (also representing Wragby Disability Lincs); Kay Franklin; Faith Jefferies; Jean Williams; Dennis Brader (also representing Jean Brader); Brian Fisher; Janet Kidder; Jessica Foster (also representing Wragby Disability Lincs); Alice Hodgson; and others.

Doxey; Tressa Machin (also representing Mark and Kylie); Sean Murphy (also representing Mrs A Murphy); Pat Steel; Claire Breilin; Kathy Lowe (also representing Thursday bingo; Margaret and John Kane); Jack Whittaker; Sue Whittaker; Donna Frankish; Julie Frankish.