THE funeral of hospice fund-raiser June Atherton will take place tomorrow.

June worked tirelessly for Pendleside Hospice after contracting cancer twice in four years. She died in Pendleside on Thursday surrounded by her friends after the disease returned.

The illness forced June, 49, of Deerplay Close, Briercliffe, to give up her job as an administrator at Manchester University chemistry department and one of her farewell gifts was a watercolour set.

The paints gave her a new interest and she was so skilful her work was exhibited at Towneley Hall in 1995. Two years later she won a national prize and was invited to exhibit in London later that year. Her paintings have also featured in calendars sold to raise money for local hospice care.

June was formerly a member of the Hall Orchestra, of local arts and language societies and Burnley Municipal Choir.

She leaves her partner John and her brother Ralph. Tomorrow there is an open invitation for people to pay their respects at a service at Clitheroe Cemetery at 1.30pm. Family flowers only but donations may be made to Pendleside Hospice care of the funeral director: Greenwoods Funeral Service, Cemetery Lane, Burnley.

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