'She had the kindest of hearts, a smile for all': Family pay tribute to mum killed in road collision

Emma Donaldson, 42, was struck by a Saab car in Littletown, between Durham and Haswell, on Tuesday, January 26, and died in hospital two days later.

A teacher at a school in Ferryhill, she was the mother of nine-year-old Molly Rose and wife of Alistair. She was also the stepmother of Alistair’s two grown-up sons.

Paying tribute to her, a family statement read: "Emma was a loving, caring, kind and funny mother and stepmother.

"She was a really special person, very hard working, extremely intelligent and always made time for others.

"She deeply loved her family and friends and we will never forget the times she made us laugh and cry, even it was at her expense but that’s what she loved and is the reason we all will truly miss her.

"Emma was at the centre of family’s universe, we will always love her and she will always be in our hearts, never forgotten.

"Emma was a bright shining star in our lives and words are not enough to encapsulate our grief. She had the kindest of hearts, a smile for all, a strong moral compass and dedicated her life to teaching because she believed she could make a difference to every child’s life.

"She was an utterly devoted mummy to Molly Rose and we are in complete disbelief that Emma will not be around to see her beautiful daughter grow up.

"She was a loving wife, beloved daughter and best friend to her two sisters. Our world will never be the same without her. We are aching because she was our everything,

"Emma was truly the very best this world could hold. She had a life full of dreams, love and laughter to look forward to, a daughter to cherish forever and a very special part in a family that loved her. Her life has been taken away too soon and in such a nonsensical way, but we are privileged and honoured to say that she was ours.

"We want to extend our gratitude to the staff at James Cook Hospital, the air ambulance service and the emergency services but most of all to the members of the public who stopped to attend Emma. We take great comfort from the actions of these people and have been overwhelmed by the support we have received.

"We hope soon to celebrate Emma’s life in a way fitting to the wonderful person she was."