‘Loving’ teacher, 61, died after falling down stairs on day of her mum’s funeral
TRIBUTES have been paid to a "loving" primary school teacher who died falling down the stairs hours after her mum's funeral.
Sue Philippart passed away on March 25 following the freak accident that happened on the evening of her mother's funeral on March 10.
Sue has been described as a "much-loved" daughter of Chris and Gerry, mum to Sarah, Becs, Rachel and Jack, and sister to Nic, Penny and Alex.
According to WalesOnline, the 61-year-old was a teacher at St Joseph's Primary School in Swansea for 28 years.
Sue's daughter Sarah had managed to get a flight back to the UK after she found out that her mum had an accident.
She said: "The accident happened on March 10, I wasn't able to get over for my grandma's funeral because they were putting the restrictions on but as soon as I heard that my mum had the accident I managed to get on a flight over.
"I was there for a week, she was in critical care in Cardiff, I was then told if I didn't come home then I probably wouldn't be able to get back into Singapore.
"It's been awful, this is the last thing we would expect especially so close to her mother passing away."
Sue's father, Chris Mcneff, who also lost his wife in the same month said: "My wife has also died, one minute I'm fine and the next it's the question of I'm not too good.
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"Susan was very generous, loving and helpful. We are coping thanks to the kindness, empathy and sympathy we have received from all of our friends."
Sarah said it came as such a shock to the family as they all expected Sue to be around for at least "another 20-30 years".
She added: "She had just met a new partner so he's devastated. My youngest brother is only 22, we are all trying to get used to it as it was so unexpected, it's a big loss for us as a family.
"Her dad has not only lost his wife of 66 years but now his oldest daughter as well.
"We are a close family so it's just awful."
Assistant coroner Aled Wyn Gruffydd heard she died from traumatic brain injury.
He said: "The head injury was caused by an unwitnessed fall down stairs. The deceased died later in hospital."
He adjourned the inquest in Swansea until September 4 for a full hearing into the tragedy.
A fundraising page has been set up to raise money for CAFOD (Catholic Agency For Overseas Development) - a charity which was close to Sue's heart.
A statement on the page reads: "Sue was loved by all who met her for her bubbly, loving and warm personality, love of life, adventurous spirit and never-ending optimism.
"Sue was a much-loved teacher in St. Joseph's school, Swansea and touched the lives of hundreds of children over the last 30 years.
"She made several trips to Zambia in partnership with CAFOD in recent years to teach primary school-aged children.
"Sue will live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved her for eternity."
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