Known as a 'beautiful' and loving mother, Ms Hobbs, a former EasyJet air stewardess, fell ill with the virus before Christmas and was taken to hospital on December 27. Karen Hobbs, left, pictured with her brother Chris, centre, and sister Rachel, right, passed away on January 19. Describing the days before Karen was admitted to hospital, Rachel Hobbs, Ms Hobbs' sister, said: 'For the first couple of days she was at home. On New Year's Eve, Ms Hobbs described how she was 'struggling to reply' to people's well wishes, adding: 'I can't manage to keep sitting and texting.' Paying tribute to her 'funny', straight-talking sister, Rachel added:'She was a proper mum.

Source: The Nation January 26, 2021 22:03 UTC