'Hard working' nurse clapped by heartbroken colleagues as funeral hearse passes hospital
Heartbroken colleagues of a nurse who died with coronaviruspaid an emotional tribute to her on the day of her funeral.
Josephine Peter died last week after falling ill with the COVID-19virus, sparking hundreds of tributes from her family, friends andthose she knew from working at Southport Hospital.
The 55-year-old mum-of-two had looked after patients at the Merseysidehospital during her long and dedicated career and was described as"passionate, hard-working and always putting others before herself".
Josephine's funeral took place on Monday (April 27) and the procession drove past the hospital on Town Lane to the sound of applause from hercolleagues.
Doctors, nurses and hospital staff all turned out to line the streetsand pay tribute to the beloved nurse.
Sharing a video to their social media accounts, a spokesperson forSouthport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust said: "We said farewell tonurse Jo Peter today.
"Rest in peace Josephine."
The video has been shared hundreds of times with people postingtributes to Josephine and her family underneath.
Josephine's death was confirmed by the hospital in a statement.
Trish Armstrong-Child, Chief Executive, said: "Josephine, from Hayes,Middlesex, had worked at Southport since February on an agencycontract until falling ill in early April.
"She was a nurse for 20 years and was married with two children.
“Josephine’s husband, Thabo, told me she was passionate, hard working,always putting others before herself. She was ‘my heroine’, he said.
“Our thoughts are with Josephine’s family at this difficult time andwe offer them our sincere condolences.”
James Lock, Chief Executive of Altrix, the nursing agency thatemployed Josephine, said: "Josephine was a diligent nurse who washighly regarded and liked by the team.
"She would always go that extra mile and was a pleasure to work with.My team and I send our very best wishes and deepest condolences toJosephine’s family.”
A Go Fund Me page set up in Josephine’s memory has raised almost £12,000.