Biggest funeral for years as 350 remember Helen Pepperell

Clayhidon’s biggest funeral for many years was held at St Andrew’s on January 21,  when around 350 people paid their last respects to Helen Pepperell.

Helen, of Far Moors Barn, Bolham, died on January 7, leaving her husband, veterinary surgeon Piers, and their teenage daughters Maisie and Grace.

Born into the Persey family of farmers, Helen was raised at Fields Farm, Bolham. She loved animals, sharing her early life with dogs, cats, rabbits and a pig, which were always producing offspring.

She had an affinity with people from all walks of life. At Drakes Place care home, Wellington, where she worked, many residents benefited from her kindness, sense of fun and gentle ways. She made life-long friends there.

Helen was first diagnosed with cancer some years ago. She went into remission, and when the cancer returned doctors prolonged her life by months with a form of chemotherapy which was felt to be so successful it is now being given to many other patients.  But ultimately even that was not enough, and she died at home with all her family, in the place she loved the most with the people she loved.

The Reverend Canon Becky Totterdell conducted a service at St. Andrew’s, Clayhidon, where the congregation was so big it spilled out of the church into a marquee in the churchyard and the Church Room. Funeral arrangements were by Redwood & Sons.