THE family of a woman remembered for her love of life and wonderful smile have launched a fundraising drive in her memory.

Jenny Rooke, who ran Beadlam Grange with her husband Mark, died in February, aged 62, after a short battle with cancer.

Her family are now fundraising for Saint Catherine’s, which cared for Jenny in her last few weeks of life.

Jenny’s husband, Mark, said: “Jenny was a core strength for the whole family and a loving wife. Since moving to Beadlam Grange in 1986 we worked tirelessly to secure a future for generations to come.

“We took great pleasure from the farming way of life we shared and enjoyed many happy family holidays.

“Jenny was a supportive and caring mum to Helen and Peter, always encouraging them on and she took great pride in everything they have achieved; Helen, with her own gift and interiors shop, Robert & Ruby, at Beadlam Grange, and Peter running the farm, rapidly increasing the cattle numbers and sharing her love of farming and animals.”

Mark said during the last three years Jenny enjoyed nothing more than sharing the farm and her love of nature and animals with her two grandsons Oliver and William, aged three, and latterly granddaughters Megan, aged one, and Cordelia, six months. “Jenny loved her life on the farm and sharing it with family, friends, horses and dogs,” he said.

“She enjoyed many social events and with our shared love of rock and roll music we were always the first to be seen on the dance floor.

“I was so proud to have Jenny by my side and we could not have been a better match.

“To have a laugh and smile means happiness and that’s what be both had in all our life together.

“During the last 10 years she has developed the farmshop to be the success which it continues to be today.

“She had a passion for promoting farming and good, local, honest food and enjoyed welcoming people to the farmshop and sharing her little part of rural Ryedale.”

Her daughter-in-law, Angela, who runs the farmshop, said Jenny was a wonderful grandmother.

“Jenny so wished to take her granddaughters Megan and Cordelia around the farm in the double buggy as she had Oliver and William and for them to continue her own love of ponies and country life and she was so sad knowing she would not be able to share this with them,” she said.

“Jenny was so very sad to leave and yet had such courage, grace and even acceptance of what was happening, still thinking of what was best for everyone else until the very last.

“The family are all so saddened at the loss of Jenny, she was truly an inspirational and supportive wife, mum, mother in law, grandma, daughter, sister and friend to many.

“Jenny will always be remembered for her warm welcome and beautiful smile, so full of life and always being there for everybody.

“With Jenny’s generous spirit and kindness Beadlam Grange became a sanctuary for so many people and also animals.”

Angela said Saint Catherine’s had provided exceptional care for Jenny during such a difficult time and the family now wanted to fundraise to give something back.

“The wonderful staff enabled the last few weeks of Jenny’s life to be spent with her precious family where she felt comfortable and at ease,” she added.

To raise funds for Saint Catherine’s, Beadlam Grange is hosting an Easter Egg Hunt until Friday, April 26, from 10am to 2pm, with a trail around the farm and picnic lunch.

Future fundraisers include Jenny’s brother, Philip Drewery, taking part in a 100-mile cycle ride on August Bank Holiday Sunday.

Jenny’s daughter Helen is organising a raffle in her shop and Angela is organising this year’s Beadlam Grange Christmas Gift Fair in aid of Saint Catherine’s.

For more information, go to beadlamgrange.co.uk