THE heartbroken husband of Enniskillen woman Paula Johnston who died last week six weeks after being diagnosed with cancer says he has lost his “irreplaceable friend.” Mrs. Johnston, a much-loved wife and mother of three children from Lower Celtic Park, lost her short battle with the disease just weeks after her 92 year old father Johnny Murphy passed away and less than a month after she celebrated her 46th birthday.

It has been a devastating time for her husband Bernie, the couple’s children; Phelim (15), Aine (10) and Shea (eight) and the entire family following the loss of a woman who “was loved by everyone.” “Cancer is a thief, I feel robbed,” said Mr. Johnston, in an interview with The Impartial Reporter.

“Paula was the best mother in the world; that’s what the children say, but she really was. I couldn’t speak highly enough of her. I am going out with her 27 years and we rarely had a cross word, probably never a cross word, and that was down to her. She was my friend, partner, wife, everything. I’ve lost my best friend,” he said, getting emotional.

It was March 2 when Mrs. Johnston, who worked as a secretary for the elderly care team in the Western Health and Social Care Trust, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

“It was probably in the latter stages then and had spread. She was sick but had been feeling better over Christmas. She was working very hard, she was juggling the family, and was always busy. She bore that cross with total dignity and I never heard her complaining once. She could take positives from things that was hard to take positives from,” said Mr. Johnston.

He described his wife as “a very humble person” who rarely told her family about the things she did for the people around her. “That would never come out of her lips. She was dignified and humble.” The Johnston family clung to the hope that things would improve for the better.

“We were still hoping against all hope, hoping and praying and both in copious amounts,” said Mr. Johnston. “But we knew as time went on that things were not good. We knew she had it rough. A week and a half later she was seen by the specialist and that was more bad news which confirmed how real and bad it was,” he said. That news came on the day she buried her father, Johnny Murphy.

“She dealt with her father’s death very well,” he said. “That was the type of person she was.” The memories of his wife from others is what is helping Mr. Johnston and his family “People are telling me how much they loved her; they want to come and talk to me about her. Memories like that are helping. I knew all that anyway but we probably didn’t know the extent of how much people loved her. She has left a lasting mark, there is no doubt about that,” he said.

As well as leaving a legacy of positivity and love, Mrs. Johnston’s three children have embodied the qualities that made their mother so special.

“People are talking about the way the children have carried themselves. During the funeral at St. Michael’s Church last week an older niece was reading and got upset and Aine stood beside her and then stood beside every single one that read, just like her mother would have done. That tells me they have their mother’s qualities,” said Mr. Johnston. “She will never be forgotten.” Mrs. Johnston’s brother Leo Murphy said his sister was “brave and inspirational.” “She accepted having cancer very graciously. She never broke down, she never looked for sympathy from us. She was caring and maternal, smart and funny. She was courageous in her work place and at home she was very child orientated with her children and her nieces and nephews. She would have been at the playground, the football field. She did everything for the children.” Aileen McAloon, Mrs. Johnston’s sister, said: “Paula always saw the good, the positives. There was no rage or anger. If she was uncomfortable she would have said to us; ‘I am sorry that you had to see that, or deal with that.’ She would have apologised to the nurses.

“No matter what we as her siblings felt we were very aware that it was much worse for Bernie and the children than for us. I thought it was terrible but I knew what I felt was nothing compared to what they must have been feeling. But it was her approach and her attitude that helped us all.” The family say they take great comfort from all the help and support they have received from the community, friends and the “exceptional” staff at South West Acute Hospital.

Mrs. Johnston is predeceased by her mother Celine Murphy, father Johnny Murphy, brother Martin Murphy, sister Catherine Murdoch and father-in-law Barney Johnston.

Help is available if you or somebody you know has cancer, or if you have been affected by anything you have read today.

Phone Macmillan Support Line on 0808 808 00 00 (Monday to Friday 9am-9pm) or visit www.macmillan.org.uk Phone Cancer Research UK on 0800 800 4040 (Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm) or visit www.cancerresearchuk.org Phone Friends of the Cancer Centre on 028 9069 9393 or visit friendsofthecancercentre.com