Family pays tribute to Jo

3:19pm Tuesday 6th February 2007

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The family of a young woman who was killed in a road collision in North Herefordshire have described her as a "larger than life character who would light up a room as soon as she walked in".

Joanne Purdy - who was known to friends and family simply as Jo - died on Thursday after her car was involved in a collision on the B4362 near to the village of Bircher. Her Peugeot 106 was in collision with a silver Peugeot 307 at around 5.50pm, leaving both cars with extensive damage. The male driver of the other vehicle sustained shock but was otherwise uninjured.

In a statement, Jo's family said they would remember the 19-year-old's love of life, adding that she would be sorely missed as a beautiful daughter, sister and grand-daughter, as well as someone who touched the lives of all she met.

Born in Northampton, she moved with her family to Worcestershire at an early age and was brought up in Upper Rochford, near Tenbury Wells. She attended Tenbury Primary and High Schools and had stayed in contact with many of her friends from the Tenbury and Ludlow areas.

She moved to Bromsgrove in February 2006 but returned to live with her parents in Kingsland, Herefordshire, in October last year and began work as a dental receptionist in Leominster. As a people person' she had settled in well to her new job and was well-liked by staff and patients.

She was proud to have achieved one of her ambitions when she became a nursery nurse after she left school, where she was adored by the children who knew her as Jo-Jo'. She was also a Godparent to two of her best friends' children.

"Jo enjoyed a busy social life with a large group of friends and particularly enjoyed going to organised raves and dancing the night away in her pink fluffy boots," said the family statement. "She and her friends had travelled as far afield as Milton Keynes and the Birmingham NEC for special nights out.

"She also loved spending time with her family, Godchildren and her two cats Daisy and Mischief but was very much a free spirit who loved life to the full."

The funeral will take place at Kingsland Church on Friday, February 9 at 12 noon. All are welcome to attend and further details are available from funeral directors RW Mann on 01568 612358. Spring flowers or donations to Cats Protection are welcome.

An inquest into Jo's death will be opened today by the Herefordshire Coroner.