Devastated hospital staff line the street for NHS worker Jenny Stone after Covid-19 death

Chesterfield Royal Hospital Foundation Trust said it was ‘an emotional but proud morning’ yesterday (February 25) as employees attended the guard of honour for their co-worker and friend, Jenny Stone who died from Covid-19 on Saturday, February 6.

The funeral procession for the 60-year-old staff member who worked in the hospital’s facilities department, passed through Chesterfield Royal’s grounds at around 9am to allow staff to say their final farewells ahead of the service which was restricted to limited guests due to Covid-19 restrictions.

To show their respect and appreciation for their colleague Jenny, the hospital’s NHS flag was also flown at half mast.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Chesterfield Royal Hospital said: “It’s been an emotional - but proud - morning at the Royal as around 1000 staff lined the route of our colleague Jenny Stone’s funeral procession.

“The NHS flag was flown at half mast and applause rang out as Jenny made her final journey around the site that had been her working home for 29 years.

“Thank you to all staff who paid their respects this morning.

"And thank you to all visitors to site who supported us as we said goodbye.

"Rest In Peace Jenny.”

Clinical colleagues at the hospital who were not able to physically attend the line of honour for the 60-year-old facilities worker, instead held a two minutes’ of silence in their individual areas.

Jenny, who was a well-known and valued member of the Royal’s team as she built a career through a variety of roles before settling in facilities education and training, leaves behind her three children – James, Lorna and Jake – along with her one-year-old grandson Bobby and her siblings David, Paul and Sue.

She recently left the Chesterfield hospital to join Sheffield Teaching Hospitals and quickly became an appreciated member of the team there too.

At Jenny’s own request, donations were made in lieu of flowers at her funeral to the Chesterfield Royal Charity – a gesture which Angie Smithson, Chesterfield Royal Hospital’s chief executive said ‘completely summed up her thoughtful nature’.

A Just Giving page has been set up by her family.

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