ClaireSAMUELS-HOWARDDied peacefully in Hope Hospital Sunday October 4th. Loving wife of Julia, daughter of Mike and Lynne, sister of Jane. Funeral at Agecroft Crematorium, 1.40pm Wednesday, October 21st, no flowers, any donations to Dogs4rescue, c/o Julia. Claire was born in Stepping Hill Hospital on July 1st 1984 and grew up in Heaton Chapel with her mum Lynne (died Dec. 2006), dad Mike and sister Jane. Before and after the death of her mum she became a passionate horse-rider with her beloved, but stubborn mare, Ginny. This love of animals carried over to the pets in the family home and later, her own. After Lynne's death she was a great friend to Mike, accompanying him on visits to the countryside and to watch televised sport. She revelled in the conviviality there, joining in the banter between her dad and "the lads" and becoming a friend of many in her own right. She loved travel, accompanying Mike and Jane to many countries. She visited New Zealand with her wife Julia, but most of all she loved her enchanted Isle of Arran. That's where she wanted to retire to and where her ashes will be taken. After training in hospitality, she enjoyed many successful years in the industry and several managerial positions.Then she met Julia Howard who she married in 2018. They bought a house in Little Hulton (even though she would maintain she lived in, 'Worsley, Darling') and soon had their doggy family. Julia tried to teach Claire about cricket, taking her and Mike to Women's Cricket Weeks, where Claire's unbounded optimism and gregarious nature made her so many friends, even if her knowledge of cricket remained at zero.It was this constant love of life and of people, allied to a self - deprecatory sense of humour that made her loved by so many. She took great pleasure in the smallest things and lived her life to the fullest. Claire suffered a short illness and seemed to be making progress before suffering a sudden relapse and dying peacefully. She had donated her corneas so although a light has gone out in our lives a part of Claire shines on somewhere.
