Tributes to mum who fought with 'the power and strength of an ox'

Tributes have been paid to a caring and devoted mum after her death from cancer. Tanya Farrel's family said she fought illness with the 'power and strength of an ox' and put others before herself despite her diagnosis.

Tanya, who was 40, died last week after a Christmas and New Year family holiday in Tenerife. She was diagnosed with cancer several years ago following the discovery of a lump in her breast then given the all-clear by medics after undergoing treatment.

But in 2023, she learned the disease had returned as a secondary cancer. She died on Monday, January 13, having spent Christmas and New Year in Tenerife with her mum, Pam, her partner, Joe, and her two young sons, Kade and Kairo.

Tanya, from Croxteth, Liverpool. worked for Liverpool City Council before she was forced to give up her job due to her illness. She came from a big, close-knit family, with two sisters and three brothers. Her cousin, Adelle Hannan, told the ECHO the family was "shocked and devastated" by Tanya's death.

"She was our girl," said Adelle. "We're all in shock, we can't believe it. Out of all of us cousins, Tanya's always been the model one. She stood out from the crowd - she was funny and caring, and she dressed the best.

"She loved clothes and fashion - she was the fashion queen. And she was so kind-hearted. As long as everyone else was alright, she wasn't bothered about herself. When she was ill, she was just focused on other people - wanting to make sure they still enjoyed their life, and making sure her mum was okay."

According to Adelle, Tanya was very close to her mum, and had a "great group of friends" who all rallied round when she became ill. She was a devoted and loving mum to to her boys and took them to the football every