Family pays tribute to daughter who 'was a gift to all'
The parents of a popular teenager from Northamptonshire killed in a car crash have said their daughter's death has left a "huge gap" in the family.
Thea Cordingley, 19, of Harpole suffered fatal injuries after the Fiat Punto she was driving left the Welford Road on Tuesday and collided with a tree.
At the time of the crash, the teenager had been on her way home from Leicester University, where she was studying for a Business Management degree, to spend time with her family.
Her father, Simon Cordingley, 47, said: "She was a home bird so she went to Leicester University as she was still quite close to home. She was doing really well at university and was enjoying it.
"We just can't believe how many friends she had. She was very sociable, very outgoing and full of beans. She was well thought of in the village as she used to do a lot of babysitting and did readings at church.
"She loved to talk to anyone. There was always laughter in the house with Thea."
Mother Helen Cordingley, 44, said: "She is going to be greatly missed and will leave a huge gap in the family. She is the missing piece in the jigsaw.
"I just think I was very lucky to be so close to her as I don't think many parents have such a good relationship with their kids. We always got on well and did so much together."
Mrs Cordingley said that the family, including Thea's two sisters Fiona, 20, and Annabelle, 18, and brother Josh, 22, had recently had a family portrait done after her daughter had arranged it as a birthday present for her mother.
She said: "She was always thinking of everyone else. We called her Thea because it meant 'God's gift' and that seems very apt now because she was a gift to all of us. Obviously her time was up but we are thankful for the time we had with her. "
A celebration of Thea's life was being held at All Saints Church in Harpole, on Wednesday, March 4, and everyone who knew her was welcome to attend. The family asked that no black was worn but lots of colourful clothing instead.
Mr Cordingley said: "She was vibrant and full of life and she would have wanted everyone to be there having a joke and a laugh."
Thea leaves her mother, dad, two sisters and brother as well as her grandparents Ann and Brian King and Iris and Burt Cordingley.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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