Hundreds gather to pay last respects to Michelle Pearson mum of 'Walkden Angels'

Paying tribute to her family members described Ms Pearson as having “a big heart" and as someone "who would help anyone in need”.

The mum of six was the victim of a horrendous arson attack on her home in Jackson Street, Walkden, in December 2017.

Her four youngest children, Demi, aged 15, Brandon, aged eight, Lacie, aged seven, and Lia, aged three; all died as a result of the blaze.

Ms Pearson was critically injured in the fire, suffering severe burns, and despite fighting her injuries bravely for more than a year and a half her family announced on September 2 that she had died.

On Friday, hundreds lined the streets of her home town and attended a memorial service and funeral for Ms Pearson.

A procession lead by the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service Pipe Band made its way to St Paul’s Church, Walkden, along Jackson Street and Bolton Road, for a midday service.

Among the cortège were five horse drawn carriages. The lead carriage, adorned in black and pulled by four black horses carried Ms Pearson to the church.

Four white carriages, pulled by white horses, followed, carrying flowers to represent Ms Pearson’s children.

The assembly also saw family limos and relatives and friends attend on foot.

Once at the church, relatives and friends shared their favourite memories of Ms Pearson including cooking together and sharing Sunday dinners, feeding ducks at the park, and telling ghost stories.

“We have so many memories of Michelle that we will keep in our hearts forever,” one relative said.

A eulogy written by Ms Pearson’s family was also offered at the funeral, saying: “Seeing just how many people are here today shows how loved and respected Michelle was, how much she will be deeply missed.”

Ms Pearson was born at Hope Hospital, Salford, two days before Christmas in 1981. She was a “good, quiet baby”, who was “very close to her sister Sarah growing up.

After attending Mesne Lee Primary and Walkden High School, where she was excellent at athletics, and one of the top cross country runners in Salford; Ms Pearson became a carer.

In 1999 Michelle, then aged 17, had been decorating her home at midnight when her waters broke. Her mum and her mum’s friend Denise rushed her to Hope Hospital “just in time” to give birth to her eldest son, Lewis.

Thirteen months later Ms Pearson’s mum delivered her second son Kyle at home on her bed. Her next child, Demi, was also born at the family home, while her fourth and fifth children, Brandon and Lacie were born at Hope Hospital in 2009 and 2010.

In 2012 Ms Pearson met her partner Paul and together they had a daughter, Lia. Paul tragically died in 2016 after losing his battle with cancer, leaving Ms Pearson “heartbroken”.

The eulogy added that Ms Pearson was a “devoted mum” who took her children away on holiday twice a year, as well as playing with them, taking them to feed the ducks and reading them a bedtime story every night.

Ms Pearson was also described as having a “charitable nature”, and as someone who always welcomed friend’s children to her home “with open arms”, and “mothered and cooked for them like they were her own”. She also sponsored a child in Lithuania.

Music and films were also a big part of her life and Ms Pearson had a passion for Old Skool and Clubland and a secret love of Peter Andre.

She also took pleasure in “settling down once the kids were in bed and watching a scary film ­— the scarier the better.”

“Michelle had a fun sense of humour, always joking and messing about, she never took anything to heart, and Michelle’s laugh will always be a laugh to remember ­— she had a loud cackle,” the eulogy added:

“But overall Michelle had a big heart, a heart of gold and she would help anyone in need.”

At the church there was also poetry, bible readings, and prayers as well as songs by Bon Jovi, Nelly and Kelly Rowland, and Aerosmith.

Following the funeral a burial service was held for Ms Pearson at St Mary's Cemetery, Wardley.