Tributes paid to 'spectacular' Dewsbury mum and market stall holder

Tributes have been paid to a “spectacular, vivacious and never-to-be-forgotten” mum-of-two who died in her sleep aged just 51.
Ros Hetherington was known to many as the woman who ran the baked potato stall on Dewsbury Market.Ros Hetherington was known to many as the woman who ran the baked potato stall on Dewsbury Market.
Ros Hetherington was known to many as the woman who ran the baked potato stall on Dewsbury Market.

Ros Hetherington was known to many as the woman who ran the baked potato stall on Dewsbury Market.

The market stall - known as Victorian Fayre - was set up by Ros’s parents Bob and Trish Makepeace almost 40 years ago.

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Ros worked on the stall selling pop from being about 10 years of age. She took over the business when her parents retired around 18 years ago.

Ros’s sudden death shocked family, friends and customers who knew her as one of the most-loved characters on the market.

Her best friend Sarah Ibbetson led the tributes and said: “Ros was spectacular, simple as that.

“She was young at heart and free-spirited and laughed and cried through everything. She loved every single moment of life.

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“She was honest, hard working and dedicated to her work and her family. She was adventurous, fun and vivacious and a person never to be forgotten.”

Roz, who lived alone in Dewsbury, leaves two daughters Kerry, 30, and Emma, 28, and two granddaughters Kaiyah, 11, and five-year-old Skyler.

She died on Sunday October 4 and was found by her daughters two days later.

Sarah, 36, said: “It was very sudden. Ros had gone to bed and just passed away in her sleep. It was completely unexpected and a terrible shock to everyone.”

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Though Ros survived cervical cancer eight or nine years ago she had been in good health.

The family has been inundated with good wishes and wanted to thank everyone for their support and kindness.

The stall was closed for just a week after Ros’s death and Sarah said Ros was so dedicated she would have wanted the stall to continue.

“That first day back was a very sad day but it was the right thing to do.”

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The stall will stay in the family with Ros’s sister Chantelle Makepeace working with Kerry and Emma.

Ros was a rock music fan and a familiar face on the Dewsbury live music scene.

A private funeral service was due to be held on Thursday (Oct 29) at 2pm at Dewsbury Minster.

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