A DEVOTED Wollaston dad has spoken of his heartache at losing his wife and the mother of his three children on Christmas Eve - just days after she thought she’d gone down with a flu-like virus.

Joanne Clarke, aged 38, died on December 24 - the day after being admitted to Russells Hall Hospital.

Medics say she died after contracting pneumonia which led to blood poisoning.

Distraught husband Darren Clarke did his best to help children Harry, aged nine, Tom, aged eight, and Alice, aged four, to get through Christmas Day.

But the 41-year-old said the tragedy has left a huge hole in his life as the couple, who met at work at Yielding Tree Packers in Belbroughton, had been together for 19 years and married for 12.

He said: “Jo was my whole world. It feels like someone has taken half of me away. She was my soul mate and my rock. It was Jo that made me get up in the morning.

“She touched so many hearts - and she could walk into a room and just light it up.”

Forklift truck driver Darren has since been forced to put his full-time job on hold while he comes to terms with the prospect of having to raise his three youngsters single-handledly.

He said: “It’s hard to adjust but I’ve had lots of support from family and friends, they’ve been absolutely fantastic.”

He also praised his employers for their patience and staff at Russells Hall Hospital for their efforts to save Jo’s life, adding: “I can’t praise the nurses on that ward enough, they were absolutely fantastic.”

Friends have also spoken of their disbelief at the Bewdley-born mum’s sudden death and have paid emotional tributes to the popular housewife.

Pal Emma Cartwright said: “We shared so many happy times together. She was an amazing mother and a perfect friend, not just to me but to everybody she met.”

Claire Farwell added: “Jo was the friendliest mum in the playground; she inspired me to be more considerate and thoughtul and to try to put others first - just like she did.”

As well as her husband and three children, Jo is survived by her parents Christine and Tony.

Her funeral will be held at Stourbridge Spiritualist Church, Union Street, Stourbridge, on Friday January 14 at 11.30am, followed by a service at Stourbridge Crematorium at 12.20pm and a wake at the Gig Mill pub, Norton, at 1pm.