A young mother who died suddenly last month was described as a ‘shining light’ by her partner, leading the tributes from her family and community.
Anita Patricia Keeble suffered a heart attack on a plane as it came into land at Luton Airport on June 18 after a holiday with friends in Ibiza.
The 36-year-old, of Oakwood Avenue, was mother to son Lamin, 14, and daughters Uchenna, 8 and Sakura, 7, and partner to Tyrone De Silva.
Tyrone told the Gazette: “When I got the call to say she had a heart attack I knew she was a goner. I just knew.
“Telling the kids was the hardest thing I will ever have to do. She was a great person. She lived for her kids.
“My heart is all over the place. The thought of the kids not having a mother kills me.
“But I’m getting my strength from them. I encourage them to never speak about their mum in the past tense. She is still a great mum.”
Originally from South London, Anita met Tyrone in 2002 while working as a door attendant and the pair moved to Dunstable in 2004.
“She was eccentric; a strong person. She was not a follower but an individual.
“Anita was a constant shining light. I’m quite a serious person and she’s tell me I was boring. Opposites attract.
“She’d come out with one liners that would just cut you and you couldn’t recover from.
“She couldn’t care less if she was underdressed for something – she was always happy within herself.”
A former sports science student and kitchen manager, Anita had just completed a level 2 carpentry course and also planned to set up a hollistic alternative therapy company.
Tyrone said: “She had diverse interests. As a family we are all into fitness and keeping healthy.
“We have a really good social network here, their two godmothers Rowena and Alison have honoured their commitmens and been instrumental.
The Travellers Rest – where Anita worked for a number of years – donated a cherry blossom tree and commemorative plaque, which the family keep in the garden.
The plaque reads: “In loving memory of a great mother, family member and amazing friend, you will be dearly missed.”
Tyrone encourages the children to spend time with the plant recalling memories of their mother.
The family also has two Rhodesian ridgeback dogs, Jackson and Minx. Tyrone said: “They’re missing their pack leader. You can see the sadness in their eyes.”
A service was held for Anita at Luton Vale Crematorium on June 28.
Tyrone said at the service: “Anita, I promise to bring our children up how we planned to.
“You are and still will be a great mum; I am running out of superlatives now. I am just blessed to have shared 10 years with you. I love you.”
Friend Debbie Linsey has had the idea to decorate the family home as a kind gesture.
Her team are appealing for help in the form of paint, brushes and rollers for their project on August 3 and 4. Get in touch at deblinsey@aol.com.