SALFORD SAYS FAREWELL TO MICHELLE

There really are no words anyone could use to even start to describe the pain and suffering that loving mum, Michelle Pearson, had endured during the 20 months after her life was turned upside down when fire spread through her family home in Walkden, it would devastate everything in its path, claiming the lives of four of her beloved children, leaving her lay in a coma recovering for months.

To lose her children in such a horrific circumstance was tragedy enough but once the reality set in that the blaze was no accident, then for the people of this City, grief turned to anger and rage, and rightly so as this was without doubt, the most horrific and barbaric crime this city has witnessed.

Four children murdered as they slept, a caring mother left to suffer life threatening physical injuries and the unimaginable mental trauma of having to awake from an induced coma to then be told of the tragic deaths of her children. Is it any wonder that her mind struggled to comprehend just what had happened? Is it any wonder it took almost six weeks for her to fully come to terms with what she had lost and how her life had now so devastatingly altered? 

Despite all which she had endured and all which she had still yet to face, this remarkable and courageous lady fought with every breath she had and in doing so she got to see justice served as those unmentionable and deplorable people who perpetrated the horrific attack against her home were finally jailed for the callous murder of her precious babies.

In the end, her battle would worsen and her condition would quickly deteriorate and on the 25th of August 2019, this amazing inspirational soul succumbed to her injuries, closed her eyes ones last time and departed this world to be with her four youngest children once more.

Her niece Courtney Pearson summed her tragic death up perfectly when she said,

"She held on, but her children needed her more."

And so today (27th September) almost a year to the day on which the people of Salford lined the streets of Walkden to say farewell to her children, they turned up once more despite the weather to bid a final farewell to Michelle as the cortege proceeded to St Pauls Church and then later to St Mary's Cemetery in Walkden.

As her poppy adorned coffin followed the same route as that taken by Demi, Brandon, Lacie and little Lia had taken, crowds gathered in silence, united in their grief. Michelle at the front of the procession carried upon a black carriage, followed by four flower filled white carriages representing her beloved children.

The Pearson family will always be a part of this city, their tragic tale has touched the hearts of us all and we share in their grief. Our condolences to her family and friends.

Thanks to Andrew Price for compiling the video.