Charity volunteer dies aged 88
A stalwart member of a group which provides support for people at the end of their lives has died.
Jean Griffin was a volunteer and befriender of Shrewsbury-based charity Omega care for life. She died on Tuesday aged 88.
Mrs Griffin had been a long-time supporter of Omega, whose clients include family caregivers, former carers, bereaved, frail-elderly and socially isolated people.
She was Omega’s most experienced volunteer befriender, who worked on Chatterbox - the charity’s free telephone support programme. She joined the Chatterbox team in 2011 and her kindness, solid commitment and compassionate approach made a positive impact on dozens of its most lonely and vulnerable clients, some of whom became friends.
Helen Page-Croft, a fellow volunteer befriender and who knew Mrs Griffin well, said: “It was an honour to work with her and to have her friendship. As a colleague I had great respect, as a friend she will be irreplaceable.”
In 2015 she was chosen as regional winner of the “Unsung Hero” prize in the Lloyds Bank Foundation Charity Achievement Awards. She was also honoured in the Good Neighbour category at the Shropshire Star Pride of Shropshire Awards.
She got involved in fundraising activity and promoted the Omega care for life Chatterbox Programme by attending events and giving BBC local radio interviews, which she enjoyed.
Her important work with Omega, though more than significant, was only a small slice of her voluntary activity.
Development director Thomas Memery said: “We are immensely grateful for everything Jean achieved on our behalf and we send our love and condolences to her family, many close friends and colleagues. She will be sorely missed. She will be sorely missed.”
Details for her funeral are to be announced.
