TRIBUTES have been paid to a mother ‘blessed with love and kindness, who gave her daughters the world’.

Fiona Rose passed away peacefully at her home in Pickering surrounded by her family on Friday, December 18, aged 49.

The mother of three girls – Bethany, 22, Imogen, 20 and and Alice, 17 – Fiona was well-known in the Pickering community, working as a teaching assistant at the infant school, as well as being a prominent member of Kirk Theatre’s Musical Society.

Born in Bradford in 1971, Fiona spent her early years with her parents and older brother Craig in Clayton. At the age of 10 they moved to Darlington as her father was relocated with the Post Office and four years later, to Cardiff, before a final move back to Yorkshire.

Her eldest daughter, Bethany, said: “This is where Mum started her Dental Nurse training, in York. She used to tell everyone her claim to fame was doing Dame Judi Dench’s teeth, as her nephew was the dentist.

“In 1994 Mum moved to Chesterfield and continued her work as a Dental Nurse, until I came along in 1998. Mum also had Imogen and Alice whilst we were in Chesterfield. Mum dedicated her time over these years to raising us three girls.”

In 2005 Fiona moved to Pickering and started her work at Pickering Infant School.

Starting out as a dinner lady, she then started her work as a Teaching Assistant in Foundation, flourishing in the role with her kind-hearted nature and love for children.

More recently, Fiona also worked a second job at the Fox and Rabbit Inn at Lockton.

Her nephew, Alistair Stockley, said: “Her smile and charisma didn’t go amiss with the customers, even when she did fall straight into the Christmas tree, knocking it over entirely and smashing all the decorations.”

Alistair said: “ It is certainly admirable that Fiona worked both jobs whilst raising the girls and still managing to run them around to their multitude of hobbies and clubs.”

Fiona’s niece Isobel Stockley said: “Fiona, like her daughters, had a love for musicals. Taking the girls, Alistair and I, to see our first musical in 2007, her old-time favourite Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat.

“Since then, the love for musicals has continued and Fiona and the girls have joined us in London to see many shows, the favourites including Waitress, Hamilton and more recently Come From Away.”

Isobel said: “On the topic of performing, Fiona was a vibrant member of Kirk Theatre’s Musical Society. Performing alongside all three girls, grandma and even grandad backstage, they formed the theatre’s very own Von Trapp Family.

“Over the years, Fiona performed in a variety of shows. Believe it or not, one time she played the pantomime baddie, her evil laugh was questionable, because we all know Fiona did not have a bad bone in her body.”

Beth said that during her time living in Pickering, her mum made some incredible friends.

“I love hearing the stories of the crazy parties mum and her friends have been to over the years, including the dancing on tables and bars, and the array of fancy dress. Mum was always the first one on the dance floor.”

Beth said: “Mum didn’t even let the 2020 lockdown stop her being able to see friends and family.

“The window visits, tents and marquees in the pouring rain and social distanced gatherings became the norm for us all summer, we were able to spend so much quality time with mum and her many friends.

“Mum taught me many things in life, including the importance of family, love and kindness, mum was certainly blessed with these qualities.

“Since her diagnosis back in 2017, mum has continued life with such admirable strength and determination.

“Although I cannot imagine a loss greater than the woman who has guided us through life, loved us unconditionally and given us the world, I take consolation in knowing that her soul is now peacefully at rest with the angels as she watches over us forever.”