Tragic mother laid to rest, more than two years after fire killed her children

Samantha Hudson, 29, was the only survivor of the blaze that ripped through her home in Clarence Avenue, Bridlington, on November 2010, killing William, nine, AJ, five, and three-year-old Maddie.

She suffered brain damage and died in hospital on February 3 after contracting pneumonia.

The Rev Chris McCarthy told mourners at Emmanuel Church, Bridlington, yesterday, including her mother Sharon and father Robert, that she was “back with her children”.

“We know that this is not the end. For Sam, this is only the beginning,” he said. “Sam is now at peace with William, AJ and Maddie.”

Mr McCarthy described her as “full of life” and “always up for a party”, adding: “We remember Sam as a girl who loved her kids and her family but we know that her dad held a special place in her heart. She was a daddy’s girl and they had a very special relationship.”

Ms Hudson, who was originally from Fitzwilliam, near Pontefract, also leaves brothers Gary, Peter and Mark and sister Hayley, who all attended her funeral.

Neighbours and the emergency services fought in vain to revive the children in the street after they were pulled from their home. They died in Scarborough Hospital a short time later.

The children were buried three weeks later after an emotional funeral at the same church.

Ms Hudson was transferred to a rehabilitation centre in Goole before moving to the care home at Holme-on-Spalding-Moor.

Her mother, who wept as she entered the church, said after her death: “It feels like we’ve lost her twice. The whole family is absolutely devastated.

“We could never be sure what she understood and what she didn’t, because she couldn’t speak. There was a time when we thought that maybe she understood what had happened, but we just don’t know.”