When Beth steps out beneath the stars for this year’s Midnight Glow Walk, she won’t be walking alone. Alongside her sisters Gemma and Hannah, and cousins Julia and Kelly, she’ll carry the memory of her beloved mum, who sadly died at Saint Michael’s Hospice in March 2025.
It’s the family’s first time joining the walk, and the experience holds deep significance.
“We wanted to give something back,” Beth shares. “Saint Michael’s gave our mum peace in her final days. This is our way of saying thank you.”
A Life Rooted in Love and Faith
Jan was just 69 when she died. Describing her isn’t easy, Beth admits: “She was a strong, caring and impressive woman who meant everything to us. She touched so many lives. Her family travelled from as far as Kent to say goodbye.”
Though school didn’t come easily to her, Jan’s determination carried her far. Jan became an Estate Manager at an extra care home in Knaresborough, where her kindness shone through. She organised everything from fish and chip suppers to bingo nights, always making sure others were looked after. She was extraordinarily creative, excelling particularly in her photography & baking.
“She was completely devoted to her family,” Beth says. “Each of her young grandchildren have a handmade doll she created, she always went out of her way to make things special for us”
Even during her final days in Harrogate Hospital, Jan never stopped thinking of others. Despite knowing she might not make it to Easter, Jan wrapped gifts for her grandchildren while in her hospital bed. Beth speaks of the place her mum has in her heart: “My mum was incredible, I could never put into words just how special she was and always will be to our family.”
Jan wanted the family home to remain a place of comfort and happy memories for her husband and children, rather than one overshadowed by grief. When planning her care, Jan chose to spend her final days at Saint Michael’s Hospice. “She didn’t want our home, where she lived with Dad and our dogs, to become a place full of sadness,” Beth explains.
The Journey to Saint Michael’s
Jan was first diagnosed with lung cancer in 2010 and later went into remission. Sadly, when a new tumour was discovered in 2024, it had already advanced significantly, and the focus shifted to palliative care. She began radiotherapy, but repeated bouts of pneumonia left her too unwell to continue with chemotherapy.
After two hospital stays and a decline in her health, despite fighting as hard as she could, doctors told the family Jan wouldn’t be able to overcome the infection.
“I was told just as I arrived at the hospital,” Beth recalls. “They said she might be transferred to Saint Michael’s, and even though there were concerns she might not survive the journey, she was absolutely set on going. That was Mum, once she’d made up her mind, there was no changing it. You did what you were told. She was going to Saint Michael’s.”
The family gathered at the hospice to be by her side — a large, close-knit group that included her husband Ray, her children, siblings, nieces, nephews, eldest granddaughter, and beloved dogs, Keithy and Holly, both Lhasa Apsos, who were incredibly important to her. “She wasn’t alone for a second,” Beth says. “She faded in and out of consciousness, but she still managed a sausage sandwich and some ice cream. The doctors were amazing — the care was just incredible.”
Jan was a devoted Christian, and her faith allowed her to accept her diagnosis as God’s will. She was at peace at the end of her life, knowing her final resting place in Heaven awaited.
Surrounded by love, Jan died peacefully on 19th March 2025, exactly the way she had hoped.
A Hospice Close to Home and Heart
For Beth, Saint Michael’s has always been part of the family’s story. The family has attended Light Up a Life Christmas service in remembrance of Jan’s sister Christine who passed away in 2007 and her Mother-in-Law, Gladys who passed away in 2011.
“Saint Michael’s has been there for us more than once,” Beth says. “You’d forget you were even in a hospice. Sometimes it felt like we were the only ones there, because we had our own space and it was so peaceful. The staff were always so attentive and compassionate. The care was incredibly personal, and we cannot thank you all enough for your kindness during the worst time of our lives.”
Why This Walk Matters
Taking part in the Midnight Walk is more than just a tribute for Jan’s daughters and nieces, it’s a way of standing up for something that truly matters.
After seeing media reports about hospices being underfunded, Beth felt compelled to take action. “After everything Saint Michael’s did for our mum, the idea that others might not get the same level of care really struck me. That’s what pushed me to sign up – I wanted to do something to help.”
She believes Saint Michael’s is too important to risk losing. “It would be devastating for the community if places like Saint Michael’s weren’t available. Anyone who’s experienced their care knows just how special it is.”
Beth urges others to take part in the Midnight Walk. “If you’re thinking about it, please do it. You’re helping to protect something truly valuable. Saint Michael’s gave my mum and all of us real comfort. I honestly don’t know what we would’ve done without it. Mum would have been so anxious if Saint Michael’s hadn’t been there for her; it made all the difference. I know mum would be so pleased that we are giving back and I hope we make her proud.”
Each step Jan’s family takes is a tribute to her life — a life rooted in love, guided by faith, and defined by the care she gave to those around her.
The family have a tribute website where donations to Saint Michael’s Hospice can be made in Jan’s memory, any contributions are gratefully received.
In memory of Jan Gallagher-Cobb
6th January 1956 – 19 March 2025.
