Tributes have been paid to a “kind and funny” grandmother who died after suffering a cardiac arrest at a cinema screening.
Melanie Jayne White, who lived in Parkwood in Gillingham, died in hospital on June 8, aged 63, following the medical emergency at Cineworld in Rochester, where she had gone to see Karate Kid: Legends.
Her daughter Tiffany says she was “very popular and had lots of friends”.
She said: “There are many ways to describe her personality, even through all her challenges and struggles, she had a massive heart and would do anything for anyone.
“She always enjoyed sitting having a fag, a small can of coke and a box of smarties.
“She was so funny – you would never know what was about to come out of her mouth.
“She was also the kind of woman who never stops until she gets what she wants. She was very outspoken, but overall a sweet, loving, kind, and funny woman.”
Before becoming disabled, Melanie worked as a carer for the elderly.
“It was very fitting for her because she is a very caring lady,” Tiffany added.
She loved to go to her local café every Tuesday and would meet her sister every Saturday to go shopping.
Every Sunday, Melanie would attend church and would “always do a prayer for her family”.
She has previously lived in Chatham, Snodland, and Newington and has three children and eight grandchildren in total.
Tiffany says she was “the best mum anyone could get”, adding: “I would ring her a few times a day, she was my best friend.
“She always gave me words of wisdom and advice and was just there to listen. She always made sure I was okay.
“I couldn’t have wished for a better mum, I have five children and she absolutely loved every single one of them.
“Every time she would go out, she would always come home with something for them, whether it was some sweets, clothes, or a toy.
“Every Easter she would buy mountains of Easter eggs, on Halloween she would buy their costumes, and on Christmas she would buy all our food, and each child would have two black sacks full of presents.
“Then, come January, she would start buying all over again. She was just the best, I just want her home.”
One of Tiffany’s friends has set up a Gofundme to raise money for funeral costs, with a goal of £1,300. Donations can be made here.
It says: “Mel was one of a kind, the craziest, most funny, kind, and caring person you will ever know.
“This is not something we would normally do, and as a family we never ask for help, but due to this being so unexpected, we would appreciate any help”.
