THE family of a Warrington mum with a “heart of gold” who died from pancreatic cancer has shared her story to raise awareness of the exceptional care she received at St Rocco’s Hospice.
In November 2024, Anne Leach was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, marking the beginning of a journey that would show just how strong, loving, and remarkable she was.
Anne first came to St. Rocco’s as an outpatient, where she began to receive palliative support alongside her treatment. As her illness progressed, Anne was referred to the Virtual Ward, so her pain could be carefully managed, as she continued to move in and out of hospital. By the end of October, Anne was struggling to eat, along with other symptoms, and during one hospital stay, she decided it was time to write down her final wishes to share with her family.
Anne was 74 when she died, and two of her children, Tracey and Sharon, wanted to share their and Anne’s story and how she was a truly wonderful woman, “Mum had a heart of gold and an enormous love for life, her family, and especially her grandchildren.”
Anne and Dave renewed their wedding vows
Anne and her husband Dave had been together for 45 years and married for 42. Anne and Dave moved to Warrington from South Wales, and together they created a busy, loving family of seven, raising five children. Family meant everything to Anne, and that love was felt by everyone around her.
“Mum was strong-willed, fun-loving, and full of character, she adored travelling and had been to Thailand 18 times, often staying for a month at a time. She loved a dance and a singsong in the bars and would always seek out a bingo game wherever she went. She loved to sing, laugh, and make memories.”
Sharon discovered that Anne had been quietly sponsoring a Guide Dogs puppy, Clara, for many years, receiving regular “pupdates” that the family hadn’t even known about until they were looking through some files, which reflected her generous, thoughtful nature.
In June 2025, while Anne’s sister was undergoing treatment for breast cancer, the family organised a garden party. Anne’s sister travelled up from Somerset to surprise her. Both women were going through chemotherapy, and it was a joyful occasion for the family to be able to come together. This was such a memorable occasion as sadly it became the last time the entire family was together before Anne died.
At the hospice, Anne’s care was everything the family could have hoped for and more. In her final moments, Anne was gently repositioned to keep her comfortable. She was fast asleep, not in pain, holding hands with her family. She died peacefully, surrounded by the people she loved most and the staff allowed the family to stay with Anne for as long as they needed, which brought them great comfort.
Tracey and Sharon spoke warmly about the many thoughtful touches that meant so much to them and how the nursing team was attentive to Anne and their family. Memory bears were made for the family, and Tracey’s husband later donated to Oliver Abel’s Wish to help purchase more bears so each grandchild could have one from their Gran as a lasting memory. The family added baubles around the bears’ necks, making them even more personal. Memory boxes containing locks of Anne’s hair were also created. These gestures reassured the family that Anne was cared for as a person, with dignity, even after she died.
“We were grateful for the family room at the hospice, a quiet space where they could rest away from others. Our brother and nephew went to the chip shop, and the whole family sat together in the Inpatient Unit kitchen sharing chips while the nurses made Mum comfortable.” It was a simple moment, but one that felt incredibly special and comforting.
Tracey and Sharon described St. Rocco’s as a ‘home away from home’. They could make a warm drink, talk when they needed to, and enjoyed getting to know some of the volunteers on the Inpatient unit. Volunteer Norman was particularly attentive with Anne’s great-grandson, Toby; he showed him where they kept the ice-cream and put CBeebies on the T.V when he visited, making his experience happy and familiar.
Healthcare Assistant Andrea even managed to turn Sharon, a non-hugger, into a hugger. The family has since returned to visit the team, gifting them with generous donations of items they found helpful during their experience that could help other families and loved ones. The family was grateful for the support they continued to receive, including guidance and support on arranging a funeral, something they had never done before. The family has since generously donated Anne’s funeral donations to the hospice, which will help us continue to support patient care.
Anne’s room looked out onto the beautiful hospice gardens, and the family took comfort in knowing she had that peaceful view. In Bluebell, there was everything Anne needed, and everything her family needed too to feel comfortable and private.
Anne’s funeral took place on Tuesday, 10th February, and all donations received were kindly given to St. Rocco’s in Anne’s memory. Tracey and Sharon would like to continue to support St. Rocco’s, and this summer, family members plan to volunteer for a day, helping to tidy the grounds and make cups of tea. Seven of them will also be taking part in our 2026 Colour Run event. As a family, they are passionate about continuing to support the hospice through volunteering and fundraising, inspired by the exceptional care Anne and the whole family received. They want to raise awareness of the impact and need of hospice care and wanted to share their story hoping to ease that journey for families and loved ones.
Thank you to Tracey, Sharon, and the whole family for supporting St. Rocco’s Hospice.
If you would like to share your story about your experience at St. Rocco’s, please contact our Marketing Team at E: marketingteam@stroccos.org.uk, T: 01925 575780, or to find out more about ways you can support the future of hospice care, click here
