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Carol Ratcliffe of Stanhill Road, Oswaldtwistle, passed away peacefully but unexpectedly on Thursday 30th October 2025, aged 79 years.
During her life Carol worked in medicine, in the Pathology lab as a biometric scientist rising to the Chief Biomedical Scientist at Blackpool Victoria Hospital. She later worked at a number of GP surgeries in Blackburn, Burnley and Nelson, after opting to work in management rather than continue in medicine.
In her spare time and during her retirement she was an active member of St Paul’s Church in Oswaldtwistle, where her husband Michael presided as Vicar for many, many years. A little more recently she became an active member of St Oswald’s Church at Knuzden. Carol also loved animals especially donkeys as well as attending art and craft groups. She was a keen traveller and has visited most countries throughout Europe and some further afield including Ethiopia, Hawaii, Singapore and Australia. She also enjoyed sea and river cruises and in her younger years tent camping and then caravanning. Whereas closer to home she liked to go out for meals with family and friends, as well as cook and entertain at home.
She sadly leaves behind her dearly loved husband Michael (Canon Michael Ratcliffe) and her dear cousins Mark, Jo, Simon and Maureen.
Carol will be very sadly missed by all her loving family and friends.
Her funeral service took place at 10.15am, on Monday 1st December 2025, at St Oswald’s Church, Knuzden, prior to committal at Accrington Crematorium.
Donations in memory of Carol are being welcomed for either St Oswald’s Parish Church, Knuzden, the Tear Fund, the Donkey Sanctuary or Cancer Research UK. Further enquires please to Paul Barton of Barton & Hallworth Funeral Service, The Old Foxhill, 136-8 Union Road, Oswaldtwistle. BB5 3DR. Tel: 01254 390542.