Tragedy as ‘selfless’ mum-of-two, 41, dies during routine surgery leaving behind devastated husband & teenage daughters
DEVASTATED family members have paid tribute to a “selfless” mum-of-two who died after a routine surgery.
Jane Neasham tragically passed away aged 41 after an operation to remove her gallbladder at University Hospital North Durham on December 18.
Jane left behind her heartbroken husband Michael as well as her teenage girls Delilah, 15, and Emmy, 13.
Her brother Mark, 43, told the Echo: “We’d all played pool with Jane the night before and had a wonderful time. She’d already wrapped all of her Christmas presents.
“She was just a remarkably kind, selfless person – I can’t imagine anyone more selfless actually.
“The thing she couldn’t stand more than anything in the world was unfairness and injustice. From being a little girl, she just could not stand the idea of something not being fair.
“There’s just a huge void. When someone is that kind, you sort of take it for granted.”
Sister Claire Wilson, 45, said: “Jane was such a kind-hearted, generous, wonderful human and sister, but above all friend. It’s impossible to express how devastating it is to lose her.”
Jane took a lead role in campaigning St Leonard’s in Durham, which was one of the worst affected schools in the country by the RAAC crisis.
When St Leonards was plunged into chaos in September 2023, Jane stepped up, setting up a parents’ WhatsApp and working with the school and calling on politicians for action.
She most recently worked as an education policy officer at Durham University, since May 2023.
Jane, from Shadforth village near Durham, garnered signatures for a petition, conducted interviews with press and met with MP Mary Kelly Foy and now-Education Secretary Bridget Philipson to discuss the issues at St Leonard’s.
Recalling the aftermath of one meeting daughter Emmy said: “One time when I was at school a teacher came over who was in a meeting and she said to me, ‘You need to tell your mum to do more stuff like that, she was amazing!’.”
A frequent gig-goer and comedy club fan, Jane and Michael had tickets to see Travis at the Newcastle City Hall the night after she died.
A funeral service at St Cuthbert’s Church in Shadforth, County Durham, was held on January 17 with almost 220 people attending.