A woman who was well-known for her church and charity work has died, aged 79.
Kathleen Stourton, of Cliburn, near Penrith, was a retired speech therapist who had worked for the NHS in clinics, health centres and hospitals in Penrith, Keswick and Wigton.
She touched the lives of many people through her tireless work with charities and St Andrew’s Parish Church, Penrith, where she was a church warden and safeguarding officer.
Kathleen was the chairman of governors at Beaconside Primary School, Penrith, and also an active volunteer with the Motor Neurone Disease Association through visiting the families of people who had the disease to offer practical and emotional support.
She was also secretary of the Friday Club, in Appleby, for people with severe learning difficulties, and helped with organising events. In addition, she was involved with the Penrith Hospital League of Friends and volunteered at the town’s day hospice.
“She was just all about helping others,” said her daughter Clare Stourton, who is a teacher in Cambridge.
“She was very modest, unassuming and quiet and did not like the limelight. She was also very kind, caring and compassionate and a lot of people would describe her as a very good listener.”
Her son Neil, who is also a teacher and lives in New Jersey, paid tribute to his mother at the memorial service, held at St Andrew’s Parish Church.
Kathleen was born and brought up in Sheffield and trained as a speech therapist in Edinburgh. She worked as a therapist in Blackburn, Nottingham and Bedfordshire before moving to Penrith in 1989.
She lived in the town for about a year before moving to Cliburn.
