Lost loved ones were honoured by their family and friends at a special service in Kingston.

Bereaved families held a minute’s silence as Hope Price, a Marie Curie Cancer Care nurse, lit a candle at the charity’s Lights to Remember event.

The congregation took time to reflect, listen to readings and sing festive tunes at the service at the United Reformed Church, in Eden Street.

Catherine Kittredge, 68, praised the work of the Marie Curie nurses who cared for her mother and cousin in the last months of their lives.

She said: “I lost my cousin Geoffrey in 1997 when he was just 40 years old to lung cancer. I come to the service on my own but all the rest of his family, the four children he left behind and his wife, know that I have come.

“The people that come seem to welcome the opportunity to have some related readings, helpful readings.

“People find it all very poignant as well at this time of the year.”

Reverend Lesley Charlton led the service, which helped raise money for nursing in Kingston.

She said: “Let us take time to remember that sadness is the honouring of love and not to have loved is not to have lived.

“We thank you for them, for all their gifts, their abilities and the joy of life. Difficulties of days and death behind them, we pray that you strengthen us for the living of life.

“Give us the strength so we remember the laughs at all the ridiculous things and the comfort as we recall times together.

“We ask for your blessing on the Marie Curie organisation, help them to be focused on their task, empower their nurses and those in administration and in these difficult economic times may they raise the funds they need and may their work continue to flourish.”

Marie Curie Nurses provide specialist nursing care and emotional support to patients and families at the end of their lives, often making it possible for people to live their last days at home rather than go into a hospital.

Speaking after the service Nurse Price said: “Some people have come because Marie Curies is a great organisation and they want to support it and are pleased to have the opportunity to remember someone who’s died. Some people say it gets easier the longer it is from a death but I don’t think that’s the case.

“I have been a Marie Curie nurse for 28 years. I find it a great privilege, it’s a real blessing to help the families I find it a privilege and honour to do.”

The Kingston fundraising group organised the annual event, on Saturday, December 3, and last year raised £13,519 which went towards the £26,183 Marie Curie spent on nursing in Kingston.