Hundreds gather at Shannon Hauxwell’s funeral in Bishop Auckland

Shannon Hauxwell, 32, was known for her “dark sense of humour and kind spirit” by her friends and family.

In February 2025, Shannon, a supervisor at the Manor House care home in Barnard Castle, was diagnosed with an aggressive mouth cancer. She sadly died on New Year’s Eve.

During an emotional funeral service on Friday (January 16) at St Anne’s C of E Church in Bishop Auckland, friends, family, colleagues, and members of the community came together to say goodbye to the “most beautiful soul”.

Shannon Hauxwell (Image: FAMILY)

Hundreds of mourners lined the streets outside the church as the funeral procession arrived.

The hearse carried an all-black coffin with white flowers reading ‘daughter’ on one side and ‘aunty’ on the other.

Shannon Hauxwell’s funeral (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Shannon Hauxwell’s funeral (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Shannon Hauxwell’s funeral (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Shannon Hauxwell’s funeral (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

More mourners followed on a coach behind, as many in the crowd wiped tears from their eyes.

The coffin, adorned with dozens of red roses, was slowly removed from the hearse by pallbearers who carried it into the church to ‘Wind Beneath My Wings’ by Bette Midler.

Shannon Hauxwell’s funeral (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Shannon Hauxwell’s funeral (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

During the service, prayers and a moment of reflection were shared.

Clean Bandit’s ‘Symphony’ was played as Shannon’s coffin was carried out of the church to be taken on a final journey to the crematorium, followed by her close family.

Shannon Hauxwell’s funeral (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Shannon Hauxwell’s funeral (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Shannon Hauxwell’s funeral (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Shannon leaves behind parents Jean and Paul, brother Paul and sister-in-law Chelsea, and niece and nephew Lousha and Paul.

Further tributes and words of comfort were heard by close family and friends at the crematorium, where her entrance was beautifully echoed by Donna Taggart’s ‘Jealous of the Angels’.

But highlighting her “wicked sense of humour”, ‘Fireball’ by Pitbull was her song of choice at the end of the service.

Mum Jean (Left) and Shannon (Right) (Image: FAMILY)

Dad Paul (Right) and Shannon (Left) (Image: FAMILY)

Chelsea Hauxwell, Shannon’s sister-in-law and best friend, remembered her as an ‘amazing’ aunty, with an infectious smile.

“You could never be morbid or down anywhere near her,” the 33-year-old previously said.

“She would always make jokes. I’m glad she never lost her sense of humour.”

Left to right: Brother Paul and Shannon (Image: FAMILY)

Shannon and niece Lousha and nephew little Paul (Image: FAMILY)

Chelsea added: “Her mum, dad and brother meant the world to her. The relationship she had with her family was something else.

“My kids were practically like her own. She was aunty to them, but she was also aunty to all.”

The Northern Echo attended the funeral with the permission of Shannon’s family.