A muffled silence ensued in the Padiham today (May 20th) as a devastated community gathered to pay its last respects to the tragic Katie Kenyon.
Hundreds of mourners gathered in the street in front of St. Leonard’s Church in the city near Burnley to say goodbye to their beloved mother. Her body was found by police in the Gisborne Forest on Friday, April 29.
There were tears from family, friends, and members of the public gathered in front of St. Leonard’s Church, many of whom wore purple, which was Katie’s favorite color. Purple and white floral worship, simply saying, “Mama” and “Katie” adorned the top of her traditional carriage, pulled by a white horse, which slowly continued up the winding road to the church for the service just before 10:30 a.m.
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The lilies could be seen scattered on her white coffin inside the horse-drawn hearse. Meanwhile, a range of colorful floral gifts were observed, including one from Burnley FC.
The 33-year-old was last seen boarding a silver Ford Transit van in Paddyham around 9.30am seven days earlier and was thought to be traveling to the Bolton area near Bowland. A huge search involving more than 60 specialists was conducted by teams of four police forces in Bowland Forest and Gisborne Forest. The search involved firefighters and police, cavalry, dog teams, mountain rescuers and drones.
Family, friends and the general community wear purple during the emotional final farewell to the funeral of mother of two Katie Kenyon, which took place today at St. Leonard’s Church in Paddyham, near Burnley. Her family asked the mourners to wear purple – Katie’s favorite color – or something colorful to celebrate their lives at the service on Friday (May 20th). Photo by James Maloney / LancsLive (Image: James Maloney / LancsLive)
This morning, as a light breeze carried purple balloons under a gloomy gray sky, families, friends, couples, and the elderly gathered in dignified silence to watch the carriage of a mother of two pulled by two white horses adorned with purple feathers.
Some stood, biting their lips and blinking with tears, while others looked sadly pensive as the carriage led the procession to the church. Trish Hudson, who works at Fat Giraffe, said: “It’s very sad, very very sad. People are very upset in Paddyham.”
Vincent Livergege, 55, the father of two mourners watching the motorcade across the road, said: “I didn’t know Katie, but I just wanted to come and pay my respects. I live in Burnley and the influence has been terrible; she was so young, with children.
(Image: James Maloney / LancsLive)
“It’s absolutely disastrous for the family, isn’t it.” The father added: “How horrible it is for me to think about my own children.”
Many observers were simply too upset to speak as they watched the white, flower-strewn coffin slowly rise up the steps to the church. He was surrounded by family and friends, some hugging each other, others walking slowly behind.
A witness, who wished to remain anonymous, told LancsLive: “Everyone has lost a great friend.” Another grieving eyewitness and resident of Padiham told us, “I feel sorry for her children; my heart is with them, “while a third said,” I did not know her, but I came to pay my respects, for I am alive in the Padiham. “
The touching, last farewell of the funeral of the mother of two children Katie Kenyon, which took place today at St. Leonard’s Church in Paddyham, near Burnley. Her family asked the mourners to wear purple – Katie’s favorite color – or something colorful to celebrate their lives at the service on Friday (May 20th). (Image: James Maloney / LancsLive)
Meanwhile, another observer told LancsLive: “Katie was just a wonderful person. The whole city was completely devastated by her passing.”
The service at the downtown church was followed by a dignified and solemn procession along Rossendale Road to Burnley Cemetery, where the young mother was to be laid to rest. A private gathering followed. A 50-year-old Burnley man has appeared in court on charges of her murder and will stand trial in November.
The Just Giving page, created in Katie’s memory, raised £ 26,245 and can be viewed here.
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