MORE than £2,300 raised in memory of a nursery nurse has been donated to the hospice which cared for her in her final days.

Janet Hill, of Woodstone Village, near Houghton-le-Spring, died last month at the age of 53, following a six-month battle against cancer.

Her family raised more than £2,000 for St Cuthbert’s Hospice, in Durham City, through donations at her funeral. Another £200 was raised by parents and pupils at Plains Farm Primary School, in Sunderland, where she worked as a nursery nurse for 30 years and where she and her husband Peter had themselves been pupils.

Mr Hill said: "Janet had a difficult time in and out of hospital through six months of treatment, but thanks to the hospice, she spent the final weeks of her life in a place where she felt happy and secure.

"St Cuthbert’s became my wife’s home-from-home and she loved it there, so we wanted to give something back for the wonderful level of care and attention that we received."

He added: "There was standing-room only for the funeral at Sunderland Crematorium, and the money that was raised for St Cuthbert’s Hospice was a testament to how many lives Janet touched – there were certainly two, possibly even three generations of her old pupils in the congregation."

Mr Hill was joined by pupils and teachers from Plains Farm Primary School, as well as Mrs Hill’s parents and her brother Paul for a tour of the hospice and to present the charity with the donations.

Moya Thirlwall, head teacher of Plains Farm Primary School, said: "Janet was a much loved member of staff, who the children felt safe and happy with, and a very kind and thoughtful person. There aren’t enough words to say how special she was."

To find out more about St Cuthbert’s Hospice, cal 0191 386 1170.