Carla Harris – a daughter’s story for Tina
“For us, St Elizabeth Hospice made us feel like we were at home. We were able to be together as a family, with Mum having lots of visits from family and friends.
“It never felt clinical, just very comforting and supportive,” said Carla Harris, whose mum, Tina Tye, received support from St Elizabeth Hospice over Christmas 2024, before her death, aged 56-years-old, on 8 January 2025.
Annually, St Elizabeth Hospice cares for more than 4,000 patients and their families throughout East & Mid Suffolk, Great Yarmouth and Waveney.
This care sees the independent Suffolk charity providing free services – whenever and wherever it is needed, whether at home, in the community or at the hospice – to those living with a progressive or life-limiting illness.
“Mum was very caring and always put everyone before herself,” explained Carla, who is from Ipswich.
“She had three children, all of whom she loved deeply, as well as many grandchildren who meant the world to her.
“She also adored animals. Her pets included Shadow the Alsatian, Leo and Simba the Pomeranians, a rabbit called Bing and a cat called Nala. As siblings, we often joked that once we moved out, that she would become a real dog lady and she really did!
“Sadly, Mum was diagnosed with life-limiting pancreatic cancer. This followed an initial diagnosis of gallstones in 2023.
“In early April 2024, she returned to hospital where a mass was discovered, leading to a series of blood tests, scans and biopsies. Her diagnosis was confirmed in June.
“Despite this, she showed her character and faced her diagnosis and treatment with great bravery. My brother and his fiancée brought their wedding forward to August 2024 so Mum could be there.
“My sister also moved her wedding to October 2024 so Mum could attend hers. We are a close family, and it meant so much that she was able to be there for both of my siblings’ weddings.
“As her health deteriorated, she was admitted to hospital in early December. Following further scans and tests, we were told that there was nothing more they could do.
“From that moment, we knew it would be our last Christmas together, so we planned to make it the nicest Christmas we could possibly have.
“Mum asked to come to St Elizabeth Hospice, as she did not want us to have to care for her at home, and on 13 December, she came to the charity’s Inpatient Unit.
“Mum was amazed by the hospice’s care she received and by her room. She kept saying, ‘the hospice staff and volunteers are so lovely and the care is absolutely outstanding.
“They supported Mum with pain management and symptom control. They helped her with personal care, including washing and getting changed.
“We felt genuinely cared for and never forgotten. Their care was particularly specials as Mum was supported over the Christmas period.
“Christmas is a time for being together with loved ones, and our family is no different. We have always made a big thing of Christmas, and Mum, in particular, adored it, with family at the centre of it all.
“The hospice helped make our Christmas so special and enabled us to be together as a family beside Mum. The whole hospice building was decorated with Christmas trees and festive decorations.
“Mum even had her own decorations in her room. She loved decorating and went all out, just as she would at home, creating a little festive grotto.
“She kept sweets on her cupboard at the hospice for all her visitors, staff and volunteers to enjoy, which really showed the type of person she was. Always looking to make others smile.
“She also did her Christmas shopping online, with help from the hospice team. We made sure to get her favourites, including tubs of Cadburys Heroes and Celebrations chocolates for Dad and the family.
“Another festive treat, in the lead up to Christmas Day, was a wonderful choir performance in the hospice, which Mum absolutely loved.
“There was also another choir that performed on the Inpatient Unit singing Christmas carols on Christmas Eve, which made the whole place feel full of Christmas spirit.
“On Christmas Eve, the hospice staff let the children sprinkle reindeer dust outside Mum’s room so that Father Christmas would know where Nanny was and be able to deliver presents to her.
“While on Christmas Day itself, we arrived as a family and spent the day with Mum in her room. Her grandchildren opened their presents in front of her so she could watch from her bed.
“The children spent the morning colouring and playing with their new gifts, before Mum had a delicious Christmas dinner cooked by the hospice kitchen.
“St Elizabeth Hospice helped our family create so many positive Christmas memories. The festive atmosphere, the choir visits and the way everything was done made it feel like Christmas in every sense. I cannot thank the hospice enough for that.
“Mum continued to receive amazing care from the hospice until her death a few weeks after Christmas. The care immediately after she died was incredibly gentle and respectful.
“They treated her with real dignity, speaking to her, stroking her hair and spending quiet moments with her. It was quite beautiful to see.
“Christmas is a very hard time of year when you have lost someone. That is why it feels even more important that our community continues to support St Elizabeth Hospice during the festive period.
“It is also why we, as a family, now support the hospice. For instance, we took part in the Valentine’s Day dip in 2026, after the original Christmas Day dip had to be postponed due to bad weather.
“My sister and I did it, along with my brother, and a few other family members joined us too. It fell exactly a year to the day since Mum’s funeral.
“I dressed as an elephant in a bikini and won best costume. Mum loved elephants and she loved dressing up, so it felt like the perfect tribute to her. I have to say the sea wasn’t too cold in the end – in fact I think the Christmas Day Dip could become a family tradition!
“On top of this, we also took part in the Midnight Walk, which had an amazing atmosphere. We had a real laugh together, as ‘Tina’s Tribe’, and thoroughly enjoyed the walk.
“In 2025, we also attended the hospice’s Suffolk Remembers event and donated a candle for Mum on the evening.
“As well as this, we were also at their Light Up a Life, which was stunning and a very moving remembrance evening. We had a star dedicated to Mum and a name on the memory hare as part of the hospice’s Hop to it! Suffolk art trail.
“As a family, we want to keep Mum’s memory alive. The fact we can do this by supporting the hospice is brilliant and I know she would be so proud. Even when she was very poorly, she wanted to donate because she could not believe the level of care the hospice gave her was free.
“I am so glad Mum was supported by St Elizabeth Hospice. They gave her the best possible care. It is a truly special place, full of compassion, dignity and love.”
Tina’s family are kindly raising funds in her memory for St Elizabeth Hospice. You can support by clicking the button below.
The whole hospice team wishes to share its gratitude and condolences with Tina’s family.