A 'wonderful mum' who died from Covid-19 will be laid to rest in Bracknell despite efforts from her friends to repatriate her to Ghana.

A familiar face around Binfield, Rose Bennison worked as the owner of Blankson's laundry shop and always greeted her customers with a smile.

Rose sadly passed away from Covid-19 in Royal Berkshire Hospital in January and her friends set up a fundraising campaign to have her repatriated home to her family.

More than £6,000 was raised for the repatriation but due to Ghana being placed under lockdown, plans have had to change for her funeral.

Instead, Rose will be laid to rest in Easthampstead Park Crematorium with her family watching the funeral service via video link.

Bracknell News: PICTURED: Rose worked at the laundry shop in Binfield PICTURED: Rose worked at the laundry shop in Binfield

Her friend Jackie Kelley said: "Thank you to everyone who so generously donated to GoFundMe to help repatriate the wonderful Rose Benisson back to Ghana. We have been totally overwhelmed and we are sure that she would be incredibly humbled by the love shown.

"Ghana has been placed in lockdown and therefore our plans are having to change. Her family in Ghana have expressed that now, due to these restrictions and that any funeral in Ghana would have to wait a considerable period of time, than a ceremony is held here.

"Ghanaian funerals are a celebratory affair, lasting more than a week in many cases with large numbers of people, as such, due to Covid this cannot now happen.

"Therefore, we are respecting their wishes and we will have a Christian funeral here, she will be cremated locally, and her friends will be there.

"We will also, with the blessing and consent of her family in Ghana arrange a video link so that they too can pay their respects.

"We will then arrange for her ashes to be repatriated at the earliest opportunity."

The remaining funds from the Go Fund Me page will be donated to a charity which will help families and people in similar situations Rose found herself in.

Rose's friends are also in talks with the Parish council to get a memorial bench in her name.

Jackie added: "We will also be commissioning a memorial bench for Rose in one of our village parks as a permanent tribute to her and hope that this will keep her memory alive.

"Again, with thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your kindness and generosity, it just goes to show in difficult times community is so important."