Volunteer Sue Cook has a unique connection to East Cheshire Hospice.
Her younger sister Jill Potts was the Hospice’s first female patient.
Jill died of cancer on her 31st birthday – March 21, 1988 – just weeks after the charity opened its doors.
Sue honours her memory by helping at the charity’s Congleton shop.
Jill Potts pictured in 1987.
She is glad to renew her connection with the Hospice after losing her husband Graham and parents Harry and Maureen in the last 15 years.
Sue said: “I wanted to give something back. I usually help on the shop till at least twice a week. It’s satisfying and keeps me busy.
“With bereavement there’s no set pattern. It was painful at times to think about Jill dying so young.
Sue Cook helping in the East Cheshire Hospice shop
“Jill was a career girl and travelled the world organising conferences for ICI, now AstraZeneca. She was excellent at languages.
“Her cancer was virulent. She was quite poorly and the ward manager at Macclesfield hospital explained about the new Hospice.
“We were concerned about controlling her pain relief if we took her home. She was in the Hospice for about two weeks and was the first female patient admitted.
“The staff were marvellous. The matron greeted us and promised that Jill wouldn’t feel any pain and she didn’t, which helped us.
“Our family, including my two brothers, were so impressed with the Hospice and how they helped Jill and us. She was never alone. Mum spent all night in a reclining chair while I sat with her all day.
Sue (left) and sister Jill in 1975
“On her birthday we all sang Happy Birthday and gave her cards. Jill died later that day.”
“There was a male patient in the next room with lung cancer who died before Jill.”
Sue spent 25 years with AZ where she was a PA before leaving in 2004 to run an antique shop.
Graham was a health and safety manager in the engineering department at AZ, while Sue’s brother Ian worked in the print room. Older brother Robert was the only sibling not to work at AZ.
Sue said: “We were all devastated at Jill’s loss. We’re grateful that thousands of other patients have since benefited from the same love and care she received.”