Mum's family make heartbreaking choice not to hold funeral as she dies from coronavirus

The family of Caroline Saunby, from New Marske, North Yorkshire, will hold a candle-lit vigil for her after she passed away in Middlesbrough's James Cook University Hospital on March 29

The family of a mum who died from Covid-19 has made the heartbreaking decision not to hold a funeral service for her.

Caroline Saunby, 48, tragically passed away on March 29, leaving her husband Vic and twin boys Joseph and Elliott distraught.

Under restrictions due to the virus, no more than 10 people can go to her funeral, leaving the family with an impossible decision over who would attend.

Instead they will hold a candle-lit vigil for her, with her friends and loved ones isolated in their own homes.

The mum, of New Marske, North Yorks, fell ill on March 26, despite taking every possible caution to avoid the virus.

She died three days later in Middlesbrough's James Cook University Hospital, and her cremation is being held on Monday (April 20).

Her twin sister Sarah Jarvis said: "We simply couldn’t choose who could or couldn’t come to a 10 person service, so we will not be having a service now.

"We’re asking all our friends and family and anyone who loved her to please join us in lighting a candle and say a prayer to celebrate her life.

We will be having a proper memorial in the near future that will do her justice and truly celebrate her gorgeous spirit. "

In a Facebook post she continued:"I cannot express our gratitude for the amount of love, kind words and deeds from far and wide our entire family have experienced over these last weeks.

"Caroline would be so proud and touched by the amount of love people have sent our way."Insurance company worker Caroline first began exhibiting symptoms of the virus on March 26, including a sore throat which she thought was tonsillitis.

She was put on a ventilator at home, before being taken to hospital.

Almost £30,000 has been raised towards the £50,000 target for her husband and children.