A YOUNG terminally ill woman from Co Armagh has died just two days after marrying her fiancé.
Jade Parker, née Caughey, from Portadown passed away on Saturday.
The 28-year-old had only wed partner Lee on New Year's Eve following a massive fundraising drive by well-wishers to organise their big day.
On the week before Christmas they had been planning for their wedding and Jade’s funeral, which is due to take place on Friday.
Mr Parker said just hours after they married, "Jade fell asleep and sadly never reawakened".
In a tribute to his wife on social media, he wrote: "So on the 31st of December 2020, Jade Caughey and I made the choice to bring our wedding forward.
"She knew in herself that her time was getting shorter.
"We got married at home surrounded by close friends and family in a very intimate ceremony. Later that evening Jade fell asleep and sadly never reawakened.
"Jade passed away peacefully at home early on the 2nd of January with myself and Billy (dad) holding her hand.
"Our hearts are broken but at peace knowing Jade is no longer suffering."
Ms Parker, a mother-of-two and step-mother-to-one, was diagnosed with cancer last year.
She completed several rounds of chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment and two operations, but just before Christmas they learned the devastating news that her cancer was terminal.
It was expected that she had months to live and a fundraising page was set up by Mr Parker's cousin Marianne to help with funeral costs and wedding.
More than £17,000 was raised and the couple received hundreds of offers of help from wedding photographers, caterers, make-up artists and other suppliers.
The couple had been together for almost eight years and had been engaged for seven.
In a funeral notice, Mr Parker asked family and friends to pay their respects as his wife's cortege leaves Milne’s funeral home in Portadown on Friday at 3pm.
Due to coronavirus restrictions, her funeral will be private.
