Tributes paid to Eastbourne mum of three

Tributes have been paid following the death of a 50-year-old Eastbourne woman who ‘lived life to the full and crammed in as much as possible’.
Nicki Brett with husband Michael and son Alfie SUS-200217-171718001Nicki Brett with husband Michael and son Alfie SUS-200217-171718001
Nicki Brett with husband Michael and son Alfie SUS-200217-171718001

Nicki Brett passed away in St Wilfrid’s Hospice on January 24 after being diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in 2017.

Her funeral is on Friday February 21 at the new Wealden Crematorium in Horam at 1pm.

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Nicki was born in Isleworth west London to parents Trevor and Barbara and had two older brothers Paul and Dave.

Her family says Nicki was very sporty at school and represented her county at athletics and netball.

In 1991 she met Michael Brett from Hailsham in Brighton and in 1993 they were married and lived in Reading.

By 1999 the couple had moved to the Roselands area in Eastbourne and her family say Nicki soon became a popular and well known resident.

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In 2000, the couple’s daughter Isabelle was born and followed five years later by Poppy.

Two years after Poppy’s arrival, the couple had a son, Alfie.

Michael said, “Nicki simply loved being a mum and it showed. She was a popular mum at all three schools, Roselands, Stafford and Ratton and the kids would often joke about being the last ones to leave the playground after school had finished.”

Nicki’s friend Judith Spellman said, “Nicki had various jobs over her 20 years in the town but the ones she loved the most were caring for other people.

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“She had a unique gift. This was also evident in the many friends she had and all the people’s lives she touched. You literally couldn’t go anywhere without her striking up a conversation with a total stranger.”

Michael said despite her cancer diagnosis, Nicki ‘lived life to the full and crammed as much in as possible and could sometimes be heard to say that she could forget she had cancer’.

She did various charity events to raise funds to purchase a new cold cap for the Pevensey Unit at Eastbourne DGH and referred to all the staff there as her ‘angels’.

The family has said all friends are welcome at Wealden Crematorium and there is to be no black attire.

The family has also asked for no flowers but donations can be made on the day for Nicki’s two chosen charities, St Wilfrids Hospice and Happy Paws Dog Rescue.