Jessica (Jecca) Brook died peacefully on the 21st May 2020, three days after a devastating fall down the stairs in her house.
She was a much loved and respected Chipping Campden character—compassionate, generous, always interested and with a hearty sense of humour—truly caring in the community.
Ever since she was young, Jecca knew she wanted to be a nurse and she began her training at St George’s hospital when she was 17. In spite of her passionate vocation, she took on RAF life with both hands, wholly supporting David, settling them into each new home quickly and finding a role in the community where she could make a difference.
Family was central to her life, through her wider family, children Julie and William, and later her grandchildren. Her passion for people extended far beyond her family, towards very young children and persons of every age. She provided deep friendship, loyalty, and a listening ear.
When David retired from the Airforce in 1989, they moved to Broad Campden and with great encouragement from the two GP doctors she started Campden Home Nursing, a scheme for nursing the terminally ill in their homes. Fundraising to pay nurses included sale of bread she bakes, lunches at home, concerts in the school hall, auctions, donations from her talks in the local area and from funerals.
Within a year she had raised £3000 and using her state registered nursing experience she and two other nurses looked after their first patient. Before retiring in 2004, she had helped over 380 patients to die at home, by then she had 14 nurses in the team. Her work inspired three similar schemes in the local area to which she gave great encouragement and cooperation.
The family would like to thank the Royal Gloucester Hospital for their excellent care in the last three days of her life and enabling her family to be with her. She will be sorely missed.
Jecca’s funeral will take place on Saturday June 6th 2020— a private family funeral due to current restrictions. On Saturday at 10am the hearse will drive along Chipping Campden high street at walking pace. Anyone who wishes to pay their last respects will be most welcome.
Any donations to Campden Home Nursing.
A thanksgiving service for Jecca will take place in Chipping Campden later on in the year when it is safe for people to gather.
