Hundred of friends and family gathered in Alnwick, Northumberland, wearing yellow to mourn Cassie Hayes (pictured), the TUI travel agent who had her throat slit in front of customers earlier this month
Hundred of friends and family gathered wearing yellow to mourn Cassie Hayes, the TUI travel agent who had her throat slit in front of customers earlier this month.
The young mum was laid to rest in her hometown in a moving ceremony.
Hayes, 28, was attacked on Saturday January 13 while working at a branch of TUI in Southport, Merseyside.
Today the mother-of-one returned to her home town of Alnwick, Northumberland, as hundreds of her family and friends, all wearing yellow, paid their respects to the much loved travel agent.
Cassie was buried alongside her beloved dad Michael, who passed away from cancer in 2004.
The sun was shining as the hearse drove through Alnwick Cemetery which was lined with Cassie’s loved ones, all wearing an item of yellow clothing, her favourite colour.
Wreaths that said ‘mammy’, ‘my baby’ and Cassie’s nickname for her sister, ‘dude’, lay either side of the wicker coffin. After a private ceremony the procession followed on to a celebration of Cassie’s life at Alnwick Gardens.
Cassie was buried alongside her beloved dad Michael, who passed away from cancer in 2004
Photos taken throughout Cassie’s life were on display and loved ones wrote messages of condolence in a book.
A friend of Cassie’s mum, Tracy, 53, read out a tribute on her behalf.
She said: ‘Cassie was my best friend, my life, my everything. We spoke every day and every night. Cassie was very laid back and never had a care in the world. She loved to dance and sing.
‘Cassie always looked up to her sister Nadine, they grew up together and they were so close every day of their lives. ‘
Nadine Hayes, 33, Cassie’s sister added: ‘My sister, my best friend, we have so many memories. Life as I know it will never be the same again.
The mother-of-one (seen with her child) returned to her home town as hundreds of her family and friends, all wearing yellow, paid their respects
Wreaths that said ‘mammy’, ‘my baby’ and Cassie’s nickname for her sister, ‘dude’, lay either side of the wicker coffin
Photos taken throughout Cassie’s life were on display and loved ones wrote messages of condolence in a book
‘Cassie brought something to me, to my life that I can’t explain. We talked every day, going for a day without talking to Cass does not feel right.
‘I loved her so much she meant the world to me, her smile, her sense of humour was just everything. She cared so much and always put others before herself. I’m so proud of her and I still am.
‘She was my best friend, if there was ever a time I needed to talk to someone Cassie was that person. We were so close. We as a family made a life long promise to Cass to always take care of Cassie’s beautiful daughter, Ruby.
‘I love you always my dude. Sweet dreams, my beautiful sister.’
Mourners were asked to wear an item of yellow clothing, which was the young lady’s favourite colour
Friends, family and colleagues made emotional tributes to the estate agent
The moving ceremony ended as the song, Simply the Best, played to the crowd of mourners
A wreath in the shape of Cassie’s nickname for her sister, ‘dude’, lay on one side of the wicker coffin as it was carried in the hearse
The moving ceremony – set in the stunning grounds of Alnwick gardens – ended as the song, Simply the Best, played to emotional friends and family.
Cassie’s work colleagues from TUI, previously Thomsons, made an emotional tribute to their friend.
Sam Swordy, 27, a childhood friend of Cassie’s, remembered her from their days playing together on the street.
She said: ‘Cassie was just brilliant, she was always laughing and smiling.
A friend of Cassie’s mum, Tracy, 53, read out a tribute on her behalf
She said: ‘Cassie was my best friend, my life, my everything. We spoke every day and every night. Cassie was very laid back and never had a care in the world’
She added by saying Cassie loved to dance and sing and that she always looked up to her sister Nadine, who she was close to until the day she died
‘Our families grew up together and she was just a canny lads who always had a smile on her face.
‘Everyone knows everyone in Alnwick and we will all miss her.’
Cassie was rushed to hospital after the attack on Saturday January 13, but could not be saved.
Andrew Burke, 30, of St Helens, Merseyside, has been charged with Cassie’s murder.
He is set to appear at Liverpool Crown Court next month.
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