Last updated at 15:46, Friday, 02 September 2011

Tributes have been paid to a West Cumbrian woman who died suddenly, aged 20.

Laura Hanley

Laura Hanley, of Crosby, near Maryport, died on Wednesday, August 17.

Mum Kim Martin said that her daughter was a young woman who loved life and lived it to the full.

She said: “She was so funny. She was really outgoing with a great sense of humour that could be cheeky sometimes. She had lots of friends.”

Miss Hanley, who had a brother Lee, 23, and sister Shannon, 15, grew up in Crosby Villa before the family moved to Crosby.

She was a pupil at Crosscanonby St John’s School before moving to Netherhall School in Maryport.

Mrs Martin added one of the highlights of her school life was going to New York with the sixth form RE class.

She said: “She loved it and talked about it for months afterwards. She and a friend returned from New York wearing pyjamas with the I Love New York slogan.”

Miss Hanley’s funeral was held at St John’s Church, which had played a major part in her life.

Mrs Martin said: “She was christened and confirmed by the Rev Mary Day, who took her funeral service. She had been a server in the church and had gone there for Brownies.

“She loved music, especially Westlife. We went to four Westlife concerts together; her, me and Shannon.

“When she was in Brownies she came home in a real huff one day, furious because brown owl had told her if she couldn’t sing better she shouldn’t sing at all. The fact is that much as she loved music she was totally tone deaf. She couldn’t sing.”

Miss Hanley went to the University of Cumbria in Carlisle to study social sciences and criminology.

Mrs Martin added: “She found it quite hard as there was a lot of work. After the first year she decided to take a break. We supported her in that.”

During the past year she had been doing a lot of bar work, including at Bar Thirty Two in Workington’s Wilson Street.

Mrs Martin added: “Her boss also had a mobile bar and she used to work at weddings and functions. Last weekend she should have been at the Solfest music festival.”

Her family said they had been kept going by the overwhelming support from family, friends and neighbours.

Mrs Martin said: “We also have wonderful memories. Just recently she attended the wedding of her dad’s uncle. Her grandmother, Doreen, had a photo taken with all her granddaughters. Doreen says she will treasure that photo forever.

“She loved her family, her friends and the dog Layla. She was a loving and lovely girl who, with friends from Gilcrux, abseiled down the Civic Centre in Carlisle to raise money for the Macmillan Nurses. She will be missed.”

Friends and family set off Chinese lanterns to remember Laura last Wednesday.

She is survived by her mother, father Stephen Hanley, stepfather Andrew Martin and Lee and Shannon.

An inquest has been opened and adjourned into the death. No cause of death has been established.

First published at 19:23, Thursday, 01 September 2011
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk