Mother makes sure memory lives on

A terminally-ill mother who left special keepsakes and wrote letters to her two sons telling them how to behave has lost her fight against cancer.

Sandra Carey-Boggans, 44, of Southwick, died at St Barnabas Hospice in Worthing, West Sussex, on Sunday.

Her husband, Tom, said: "She was an inspiration to all who knew her and a jolly fantastic lady."

In letters, she advised Jacob, 13, and Lewis, 10, to consider other people's feelings and avoid negative moaning.

Mrs Carey-Boggans also told them to not be afraid to make mistakes.

She passed away very peacefully Mavis Wise

She underwent a mastectomy and six months of chemotherapy and radiotherapy after she was diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2004.

After she discovered in September 2005 that the cancer had spread to her bones and stomach and was untreatable she decided to fulfil as many ambitions as possible.

She married her long-term partner Tom, went on a holiday to New Zealand and took up kayaking and hot air ballooning.

Mrs Carey-Boggans left "memory boxes" for her sons which contained a bottle of her perfume, a lipstick and other keepsakes.

She also recorded a song dedicated to her family which she wanted to be played at her funeral.

Her mother, Mavis Wise, said: "She passed away very peacefully."