Tributes have been paid to a ‘caring nurse’ and ‘loving mum’ who has tragically lost her battle with breast cancer aged 49.

Sarah Hodkinson of Park Avenue, Great Harwood (pictured) passed away on Thursday, March 27.

She leaves an 11-yearold orphaned son Henry, whose father Lloyd Hargreaves died suddenly last April.

Sarah, who was a matron at the Royal Blackburn Hospital, had beaten breast cancer in 2010 after extensive chemotherapy, but when the cancer returned in October last year the treatment failed.

Her sister Louise Hodkinson is now caring for Henry at their home in Lomax Close, Great Harwood.

She said: “Sarah was not only my sister but also my best friend, we had a lot of lovely family holidays together and we were very close.

She was a very positive and very brave woman, she went through a lot of treatment when she was first diagnosed in 2009 and she was even back at work the following year.

“She continued her career and took every opportunity to travel, have fun and spend time with her family and friends.” Louise, 52, said the whole family ‘could not believe it’ when Sarah was re-diagnosed.

She said: “We thought she had fully recovered but then she started feeling ill last September. She was re-diagnosed with cancer in October. She just couldn’t believe it, none of us could, she wanted to get better so much for her son Henry.

“Henry is being a very brave boy, he has got a lot of his mum’s personality and positivity.

“He has moved in with me and my 16-year-old son and as a family we are all supporting him.”

Sarah was cared for by colleagues at the Royal Blackburn Hospital where she worked for several years first as a ward sister and then as a matron.

Louise added: “It was quite difficult for her colleagues and friends who all thought very highly of her.

Sarah showed enormous bravery being nursed by some of her true friends on a ward where she had previously worked.”

Louise said that Sarah had throughly enjoyed nursing and was an ‘inspiration’ to members of staff.

She said: “Sarah specialised in what she loved, medical nursing, and was a very well known member of the nursing team for many years.

“She has been an inspiration to others helping and encouraging many of the medical nursing team around her and leading by example through her compassionate, positive and caring nature.

“ We have since received lovely cards and phone calls from all the staff offering support.”

A funeral service will take place at St Bartholomew’s Parish Church at 11.15am on Monday, April 7.