Life of Ron Kitching celebrated at funeral service

MOURNERS paid their last respects to a man who helped save lives through his charitable work.

Ron Kitching's funeral was held yesterday at Grimsby Crematorium, led by humanist minister Lee Grant.

The service opened with the hymn Oh My Papa by Eddie Fisher before Mr Grant welcomed everyone.

"This is a service of remembrance, honour and celebration of the life of Ron Kitching," he said.

"In his own words he said he had lived a fantastic life."

Over the past 16 years, Ron helped raise hundreds of thousands of pounds for medical equipment that will aid cardiac patients at Grimsby's Diana, Princess Of Wales Hospital.

In 1990, he had a heart attack himself and a year later underwent major surgery that included a quadruple heart bypass.

This inspired him to begin his fundraising journey as he wanted to provide life-saving equipment locally to help those like himself.

Thanking him for this, the chief executive of Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Foundation Karen Jackson was invited to speak at the funeral.

She said: "He was an exceptionally good man and had an absolute belief for our organisation and the staff who work within it."

Since Ron launched the Big Red Heart Appeal in 2010, £94,500 has been raised towards a new heart unit at the hospital.

Diane Fixter, the coronary care ward manager, read out a eulogy to Ron.

She said: "Ron would be winking, nodding and smiling at me to try and put me off.

"He had a brilliant sense of humour and was young at heart.

"He was a fighter until the end, he will be missed by so many people."

Ron's daughter Susanne shared her father's life with all those in attendance and took a few minutes away from her speech to play a tribute song to him.

The Disney tune When You Wish Upon A Star was a fitting example of how Ron always encouraged his children to be whatever they wanted to be.

During the funeral, Susanne said: "We remember an amazing father. Not one moment during my life did my dad ever let me down.

"As sad as I am, my heart is at peace, as nothing was left unsaid."

She also read out her father's favourite poem before the song Smile, by Nat King Cole, was played.

Mr Grant described Ron as a man of "strength, vision, drive and focus".

He said: "Ron created so many warm and wonderful memories."

The funeral concluded with the song Thanks For The Memory by Frank Sinatra as mourners made their way out of the crematorium. There was a chance for people to donate to the Big Red Heart Appeal as they made their way out.