Mum-of-three Rachael Kershaw “lit up every room she walked into with her bubbly character and beautiful smile”
Rachael Kershaw, 41, pictured with her three children Jack, Bobby and Bessie(Image: Family handout)
The family of a “beautiful” mum-of-three from New Brighton who died suddenly at home earlier this week have paid tribute to her. Rachael Kershaw, 41, died unexpectedly on Monday, August 11.
Emergency services were called to her home after her young children raised the alarm, but despite the efforts of paramedics, Rachael was tragically pronounced dead at the scene.
Speaking to the ECHO, her brother Isaac, 35, said: “It was so unexpected. When paramedics turned up, she had already passed. There was no indication of suicide. At this point in time, we don’t know what happened to her. A post mortem has been done, but we haven’t received the results yet.
“At the age of 41, it’s just shocking. She had no history of illness or pre-existing conditions that we were aware of.
“She’d just spoken to my mum on the phone at around 11pm on Sunday night. They had a lovely conversation and said they loved each other, and then she went to bed.
Rachael Kershaw, 41, died suddenly at her New Brighton home on August 11(Image: Family handout)
“Her two youngest children, Bobby and Bessie, who are nine and seven, tried to wake her in the morning and she wouldn’t wake up, so Bobby rang 999. And then everything fell apart after that.”
Describing the impact of her sudden loss, Isaac added: “We were all really close with Rach. We’re a really tight-knit family. You couldn’t ask for a more unified, loving family.
“She was immensely vivacious. She lived by the mantra of children first. She always put the interests of her children at the heart of everything she did. She lived for her children.
“She lit up every room she walked into with her bubbly character and beautiful smile. She was just such a beautiful person inside and out. Her children were her entire world, they were her purpose.
“I’m still processing everything that’s happened over the last few days. It’s just shocking.”
Rachael was described as “a beautiful person inside and out”(Image: Family handout)
In a statement, her family said: “It is with shattering grief we announce the sudden passing of our beautiful Rachael on Monday, 11 August 2025, aged 41.
“Rachael was a devoted mother to Jack, Bobby, and Bessie, a beloved daughter to Ruth and Martin, and a cherished sister to Matthew, Rachael, Joseph, Isaac, and Anthony.
“Undeniably and immensely vivacious, Rachael had a golden heart and lived by the mantra ‘children first’, placing the happiness and well-being of her children at the centre of all she did. She always faced life with steely determination whilst being fiercely and admirably independent, lighting up every room she walked in with her exquisite smile.
“Rachael was – and always will be – deeply loved and cherished by all her family and friends.
“We are utterly bereft and heartbroken.
“The family kindly requests privacy as we begin the unimaginable journey of moving forward without the vibrant light that was our beautiful Rachael.”
A crowdfunder has now been set up by the family to raise funds in support of Rachael’s children, to help bring them “comfort, joy, or opportunities for the future.”
Anyone wishing to donate can do so here.