A HUSBAND has paid tribute to his "one-in-a-million" wife, who died at just 40 years of age.
An eight-month battle against cancer ended for Anne Marie Feeley when she died at the family home in Cottom Croft, Clayton-le-Moors.
She leaves a baby James and two other children. Her eldest, Rebecca, had her ninth birthday the day after the funeral.
Husband Andrew, 42, said his family felt "devastated and robbed of a truly wonderful person" but he would live the rest of his life inspired by his "gorgeous, generous wife".
He said: "I am going to dedicate my life to the kids now because that's what Anne did."
"I am going to bring them up her way because she was so special, such a loving, tender person."
Anne, a financial accounts clerk at the W Hall Group on the Huncoat Industrial Estate, was taken to Blackburn Royal Infirmary with stomach pains last November.
A month later doctors found a tumour in her liver.
Andrew said his wife received chemotherapy for three months but came off it because the treatment was making her more sick.
"Her death came as a shock even though she had been ill for a while," he said.
"When she was diagnosed with cancer I wanted to lie down and never do anything again. But she was so strong and positive."
"Her face never stopped smiling despite it all and she was a real fighter."
"She was determined to get through it because she loved life."
"I can take what she gave me through nearly 19 years of marriage and it makes me strong."
"There were so many happy times that I will cherish for ever. She was such a popular, kind, lovely girl."
"Anyone lucky enough to become friends with her became a friend for life."
"She had no pretensions, she was honest, beautiful and intelligent and will definitely be looking down on us from heaven."
Anne, a former pupil of St Anne's RC Primary School and Holy Family Secondary School, lived an active life and loved travelling, swimming and fashion design.
More than 300 people, including family and friends from America, Ireland and across the UK, attended her funeral service at St Mary's RC Church, Clayton, on Monday.
The church was so full that many mourners had to stand at the back.
The service, conducted by Father Joe Feeley, was followed by burial at Church and Clayton-le-Moors Cemetery.
As well as her husband, she leaves children James, 21 months, Matthew, six years, and Rebecca, her parents Brian and Margaret Devlin, of Beech Crescent, Altham West, three brothers and two sisters.
