A WOMAN’S dying wish to see her son get married was fulfilled just weeks before she passed away.

Julie Gleave, 43, was diagnosed with terminal cancer on March 23, but she pledged to carry on living life to the full.

The devastating news came four years to the day after she was first diagnosed with breast cancer.

She drew up a wishlist detailing her desire to see son Stephen marry his girlfriend, have a photoshoot, see the sun set in Morecambe and go for a family meal at The Crown and Thistle, Edgworth.

Her family said the list of simple pleasures showed that what mattered most in her life were family and friends.

Stephen said his mum was determined to see her wishes fulfilled: “The first item was for me to get married, so I did. And we went for the meal right before she died.”

Miss Gleave achieved all of her wishes, and family members said she lived every day to the full.

Sister Karen, 44, said: “She never gave up. She was in bed for just a day before she died.”

Dad Michael, 65, said: “She was determined. If she had a goal she always hit it. She showed me how to live and she showed me how to die.”

Miss Gleave leaves her mother, Irene Salt, 64, father Michael, 65, and two sons Stephen, 25, and Corey, 15, sisters Karen and Marilyn, brothers Billy, Paul, Michael, Scott and Declan, grandparents Irene Gleave and Eric Sellers, and two grandchildren, Aiden, five, and Lisa, three.

Darwen-born Miss Gleave was a former pupil of St Edward’s Primary School and St Thomas’ RC High School.

As well as owning a clothes shop, she worked at Blackburn Market, The White Lion pub in The Green, Darwen, Royal Blackburn Hospital, Bramble’s Children’s Home and Blakewater College.

In 2010, she did voluntary work with a mission in Malawi, spending three weeks helping children.

Miss Gleave was heavily involved with the church and a regular at St Edward’s RC Church and St Joseph’s RC Church, both in Darwen.

Father Peter Wilkinson, who covers both churches, said: “She was with the parish for years and was a terrific example of faith.

“Julie was a real inspiration to us all. She certainly knew what mattered in life. And her final wish was to be surrounded by her family when she was finally committed to God, and she had that.”

Miss Gleave’s funeral was held yesterday at St Joseph’s Church, followed by interment at Darwen Cemetery, then a wake at the ICI Club, Bridge Street.