A WOMAN has died only a week after the death of the loving husband who had cared for her during a long-term illness.

The funeral of Leslie Smith, 75, was to have been held tomorrow, but the couple's devastated family have postponed the service so that a double funeral can be held for Mr Smith and his wife, Jane, 73.

David Smith, the youngest of three sons, paying tribute to his parents, said his father had been a well-respected member of his community.

He said: "My mother had been unwell with emphysema since her retirement and my father had been her backbone and cared for her every need.

"He had to undergo a major operation, but died later of complications.

"My wife Fiona, my brother James and I held a bedside vigil for the last two days of his life and we prepared my mother, who was unable to visit him.

"She knew he was about to die. But when she heard he had, she could not take it any more.

"I think she just gave up. She said, 'Please Lord just take me, there is nothing left for me to live for'. She wanted to be with him."

Mr Smith said his parents, of Crescent Close, Sherburn Village, near Durham, had been inseparable since they had met on the dance floor of Sherburn Welfare Club. They had been married for more than 50 years.

A committed Christian, his father was well known on the district's Methodist circuit for his speaking skills.

In his working life, he got an apprenticeship though the organ builders Harrison and Harrison, of Durham, and travelled around the country fixing organs.

He later worked at the Sherburn Hill pit, going on to become a bus driver for United, before working for Mullards and then at Mattisons (now Curry Foods), where his wife worked before she retired.

Mrs Smith also worked behind the bar at the Sherburn Club and Grey Horse pub.

Mr Smith was a talented cricketer, at one stage playing for the County Durham amateur team, and was a keen Sunderland AFC supporter.

His son said: "My father was a loving man and very generous. My mother always did everything she could for us lads. They will both be sadly missed."

The couple are also survived by sons Wilfred, James and David, and six grandchildren.

The funeral will be held at 10am on Friday at the Methodist Chapel in Sherburn, followed by cremation. The couple's ashes will be buried together later, at a private ceremony.