Tommy Sheridan has confirmed his mum Alice's funeral will take place next week following her tragic death in a flat fire.
Alice Sheridan lost her life after a blaze struck her flat in Invergyle Drive, Cardonald, just before 8pm on March 12. Emergency services, including police and firefighters, raced to the scene to put out the fire.
Sadly, nothing could be done to save the 84-year-old. Her grief-stricken son Tommy paid a moving tribute to her, describing her as "some wummin".
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He has now thanked the public for their messages of condolences, saying his family has been "overwhelmed by the warmth and kindness".
He said: "My two sisters and our respective families wish to put on record our deepest gratitude to the thousands of you who have taken the time and made the effort to send cards, flowers and social media messages of condolences in respect of our mum’s sad death from an accidental house fire on Sunday 12th March.
"We have been literally overwhelmed by the warmth and kindness we have received from all across Scotland and further afield. We want to thank you from the bottom of our broken hearts for your acts of human solidarity which have raised our spirits and inspired us at a difficult time. Alice was clearly a much loved and well-respected woman."
Alice was born in Govan and while employed by the Royal Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (RSSPCC), she worked with children and adults who were victims of sexual abuse.
Tommy also thanked the carers who supported Alice as well as the firefighters who battled the blaze that took her life, police officers and paramedics.
He continued: "We would like to offer our sincerest thanks for all who cared for our mum, in particular, Nancy, Maureen, Carol, Margaret, Agnes, Jennifer and Mary who all worked for Glasgow City Home Care. We also wish to offer our thanks to her friend Lorraine.
She has had many carers over the last few years and all of them were professional in the tasks they had to undertake, showed her lots of love and compassion, and always had a smile on their faces.
"The family would like to acknowledge the efforts and bravery of the firefighters from Polmadie, Pollok, Yorkhill, Govan and Cowcaddens fire stations as well as the senior officers who attended the incident on Sunday 12th March.
"We want to thank the paramedics and police officers for their professionalism and care during the trauma of 12th March and afterwards.
We also extend our thanks and appreciation to mum’s neighbour Joe, and the concierge Peter for raising the alarm and their care for mum over many years."
Tommy confirmed that Alice's funeral mass will take place on Tuesday, March 28, at Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel at 10am following a horse hearse leaving the home at 9.15am. He also stated that Alice had stipulated that colourful clothing is to be worn.
He said: "Many have asked to be informed about our mum’s funeral arrangements. You are welcome to show your respects should you have the available time.
"Alice will depart from Invergyle Drive in Cardonald at 9.15am on the morning of Tuesday 28th March carried in the horse hearse she had requested complete with white horses and red plumes to Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel on nearby Lourdes Avenue for a Requiem at 10am.
"After the mass Alice will be carried to the Hurlet Crematorium on Glasgow Road for a family service and eulogy from 12noon.
"One stipulation Alice always laid down regarding her funeral was the wearing of colours. She always stressed that her funeral should be a celebration of her life not a dark and sad affair. So colourful ties instead of black ones please and whatever is the equivalent for female attendees."
Donation were also requested to one of the charities close to Alice's hearts - Smile Train, the Firefighters' Charity, The Brooke Hospital, and Doctors Without Borders - in place of flowers.
Tommy continued: "Alice was the most generous woman we knew, and she had Direct Debits for several charities which meant a lot to her. These included Smile Train which provides corrective surgery for children born with cleft lips.
"The fire fighter’s charity concentrating on the wellbeing of fire fighters, many mentally and emotionally scarred from the difficult accidents and tragedies they must deal with regularly.
"The Brooke hospital which provides medical treatment for working horses and donkeys. Donkeys were my mum’s favourite animal.
"And she also donated monthly to Médecins Sans Frontières, also known as Doctors Without Borders, a charity that provides humanitarian medical care. It is a non-governmental organisation of French origin known for its projects in conflict zones and in countries affected by endemic disease.
"Rather than bringing flowers to Alice’s funeral please instead send a donation in her name to one of the above mentioned charities.
"Thanks again for all your love and kindness. It really is very much appreciated. As my mum often said strangers are only friends we are yet to meet. That was her philosophy on life and the way she lived her life. She will live on forever in our hearts and her spirit of humanity will continue to guide and inspire us."
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