A dad with a "generous heart" and "always the first to buy a round of drinks" died suddenly after a short battle with cancer.
Eamonn Gillen, who was born in Knotty Ash and lived in Birkdale before he died, was diagnosed with renal cancer which spread to his pancreas and lungs. The 58-year-old died on Thursday, March 16.
His daughter Grace Gillen said the form of cancer Eamonn had was "very aggressive" and "hard to pick up early".
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Speaking to the ECHO, she said: "Dad had no symptoms whatsoever until December when he started feeling ill, fatigue, and having all these symptoms. It finally got to late January and [doctors] said it was cancer and sort of tried to get a formal diagnosis together but in that time from the end of January to now, around six weeks, he just declined far too quickly.
"It couldn't have been picked up any sooner because there were no symptoms. There was nothing nobody could have done."
Paying tribute to her dad, the 31-year-old said Eamonn was very well known in Birkdale and "loved being around people".
Grace told the ECHO: "He was a great dad, very funny, loving and warm. Dad is well known for his jokes. Everyone who talks about him mentions the jokes he told and funny stories he told of his life and as a dad he was always making us laugh in some way.
"Dad was always trying to keep the peace and was always the peacemaker in the house, the mediator. He had little sayings and things. He was an Everton supporter as well and loved to watch the match with his son."
Eamonn sadly leaves behind his three children Grace, 31, Joseph, 23, Anita 21 and wife Georgina of nearly 25 years. He was also one of six brothers and sisters who were all "very close".
Grace added: "We're hoping dad's funeral will be as joyful and as happy as it can be. He wouldn't want us to be sad or mourning, he would be just so annoyed that we were doing that, he would just want us to have a laugh.
"He loved going out for a drink and socialising. He would always be the first one to buy a round in, he wouldn't let anyone buy the drinks in."
Grace also praised the support they received from agencies who helped the family following Eamonn's diagnosis, including care agency New Directions based in Sefton who provided the 58-year-old with "professional, compassionate and dignified care".
The 31-year-old said: "Macmillan in Southport have been incredible. A lady called Julia has really helped us financially, applied for sort of benefits and different things we were entitled to. They did it all for us as well, so took away that sort of burden.
"There is also Queenscourt Hospice who provided the palliative care and they are also based in Southport, and then the district nurses they were so amazing. They gave us so much equipment, so much advice, they would check on all of us, it wasn't just about dad, but they would check the whole family.
"We had really good support from our local GP in Ainsdale Medical Centre as well."
The family are now raising funds via a GoFundMe page in memory of Eamonn for Macmillan and Queenscourt Hospice. The family also hope to use the funds to help cover the cost of the funeral which will help give Eamonn "the best send off celebration".
Grace said the family also hope to put funds towards a memorial bench or plaque in Birkdale village so everyone can have somewhere to go and remember Eamonn in a place that he loved.
To donate to the GoFundMe page, please click here.
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