Tributes to Telford mother 'who lit up the room'
The family of a Telford woman who died of a brain tumour said she was always smiling and would light up any room.
Emma K Preece was diagnosed with the tumour in May 2012 just five weeks after giving birth to her second child.
Miss Preece, 32, died on February 1 at the Severn Hospice and her fiance, Dave Stevenson, 35, paid tribute to hospice staff who made her last days as comfortable as possible.
"They went above and beyond the call of duty to not only help Emma but her family too," he said.
"No matter how bad it got for Emma she was always smiling and laughing and joking with us right until the end.
"She was very sporty at school, and she always said the other kids dreaded sports day, because when she had her trainers on everyone knew she meant business.
"She always put the kids first, and they meant the world to her."
Emma and Dave, who lived in Muxton, met when they were both on a night out in Ironbridge. Emma was out with her sister Wendy and some friends when she bumped into Dave. Wendy said they had a spark straight away and their relationship went from there.
Dave added: "I think it was the only time on a night out I was completely sober because I was the designated driver, but I met Emma so I can't complain.
"From now on in her memory I will be doing everything I can to help raise awareness and funds for Severn Hospice, because I never realised how many people suffer with cancer."
He added: "And if I can give a family the same experience we had with the hospice, that's the least I can do. They really were amazing."
Emma leaves behind her two children Grace, five, and James, two, as well as her two sisters and brother Ian, who ran with the Paralympic torch in 2012.
When Ian ran with the torch he dedicated it to his sister.
Emma's mother and father Clare and John Preece said she will be missed by everyone and that they are extremely proud of her.
"She had a lot of bad luck during her treatment, everything that could of gone wrong did, but she never stopped smiling,"
Mrs Preece said: "As her parents we are extremely proud of her."
Mrs Preece added that Grace still does not understand what had happened to her mum, but refers to her as a star in the sky.
She added: "Grace doesn't quite understand what has happened yet, but she knows that mommy is a star in the sky, which she speaks to every night before she goes to sleep.
"I think it gives her some comfort knowing that her mum will always be looking after her."
She added: "James is starting to talk about it now, but he keeps asking for mommy to read him a bedtime story.
"She always put the kids first and I know they will be extremely proud of her and will always look up to when they are older."
The funeral is on Wednesday at 11am at Telford Crematorium.
Family flowers only but donations will be for Severn Hospice.
