Family and friends have paid tributes to a ‘caring’ family woman who dedicated her life to helping others.
Maureen Heggie has died at the age of 69.
She was born in Sheffield and was a nurse at the Lodge Moor Hospital and met her late husband, Jim.
Maureen later moved to Bolton living in Eagley and Harwood.
Her son Jack says she was the type of person who would “always go above and beyond” for her family and friends.
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Maureen was known to many in the community for her yearly fundraising commitments via her community team - later known as Team Eagley Bank, for different local charities and causes.
Jack added: “She would always go above and beyond for any of her friends, family and causes, she felt a connection with or a duty to help.
“She would always put others before herself and wouldn’t expect anything in return.
“My mum poured her time, energy and love into myself and my son Harry.
“She and my dad have given myself and Harry so many opportunities and support, ensuring our lives were enriched with activities, sports, fundraising and so much more.
“Lots of these lessons both myself and Harry have learnt from my mum we will both take through the rest of our lives.”
Her husband Jim met Maureen when she was a young volunteer and student nurse at the Spinal Unit at Lodge Moor Hospital in Sheffield at a Christmas event.
They quickly fell in love and built a life together.
An accident left him paralysed from the chest down and once he was discharged Maureen moved to Bolton to care for Jim.
Jack said: “After my dad was discharged from hospital she really supported him to change his life round after his injuries and have a more positive outlook.
“This involved helping him regain his confidence, become more active with disability sport and promote his own independence.”
Maureen died on January 25, 2023, after becoming ill during winter and after her breast cancer returned.
Jack said: “We are still processing it really.
“It’s my mum and I’m going to miss her, but it’s also a big sense of loss to the community.
“She meant a lot to me and was so caring and always saw the best in people and tried to make the world a better place.”
She worked as a nurse at the Royal Bolton Hospital and organised fundraising events for the J1/ J2 wards to take patients on day trips and to build a new Garden area for them to use at their leisure.
She retired early as a nurse in 2003 to spend more time at home with her family.
Maureen spent more than 20 years fundraising for the Bolton Bulls Wheelchair Basketball team with Jim and also the Jubilee centre in Bolton.
Some of the charities that she helped out included Farnworth and Kearsley Foodbank, Back Up, Fort Alice, Princess P fund, Bolton NICE, Mhist, Trussell Trust, and many others, which she carried on until she died.
Her fundraising activities saw Maureen invited to Buckingham Palace for garden parties on two separate occasions.
Alongside those in the local community raised approximately £100,000 for charities.
Karen Farnworth worked alongside Maureen in her fundraising group and remembers how ‘kind’ and ‘caring’ she was when she met her as a neighbour.
She said: “Every year she organised some carol singers in the area.
“I heard them outside with my son and joined in with them, and she asked me if I wanted to get involved in fundraising.
“Maureen dedicated her life to looking after people and raising funds.
“She was a community person, and this will be a huge loss to the community at large.”
A fond memory she has is when they were raising money for Bolton Mountain Rescue and presented a cheque to around 20 members at Maureen’s home.
She added: “It was so funny, but I was also so grateful to work with her.
“She was just a very kind person and would give you the shirt off her back.
“I knew her very well and it was a nice friendship.”
Karen says that Maureen and Jim were huge fans of Bolton Wanderers.
Jack added: “She really was a cornerstone of the community she lived in whether that was back in Sheffield, Little Lever, Eagley Bank and Astley Bridge.
“My mum was extremely passionate about local people and businesses, ensuring anyone she came into contact with was included in her fundraising and support.”
If you have a story and something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at jasmine.jackson@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on Twitter @JournoJasmine.
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