The daughter of a much-loved mum who died after being struck by a train says her death has spoken of her family’s heartbreak. Jill Canovan was discovered near Heaton Chapel railway station in Stockport just after 4am on Monday (June 3). Emergency services rushed to the area but the mum-of-two was pronounced dead at the scene. She was just 46-years-old and leaves behind devastated daughters Amber, 25 and Jordan, 23. READ MORE: ‘I had only been speaking to her a few days before. When I got the call I just screamed’ Speaking for the first time about the tragedy, Amber told the Manchester Evening News her family are struggling to come to terms with their monumental loss. “I literally had nothing in my brain,” she said as she recalled the moment she was given the news. “I just felt numb. I still don’t feel like it’s real. My sister moved out so it’s just been me and my mum every day. I just feel like she’s going to walk through the door, like she’s not really gone. “Especially the way it happened – she promised she would never leave me. She told me a few weeks ago she was struggling and didn’t want to be here but she wouldn’t leave me. She was my best friend and we used to do everything together.” Jill, also called Jill Parton, lived in Heaton Chapel and was well known from her time as landlady of The Crown pub near Stockport Viaduct. A huge animal lover, she was often seen feeding squirrels at her local park and even once owned two rescue ducks. The kind and empathetic mum also allowed more than 50 homeless and vulnerable people to stay at her home over the years until they got back on their feet. “She was a lovely woman who would do anything for anyone,” Amber continued, breaking into tears. “She was bubbly and happy. Anyone who was homeless or with nowhere to stay, she would let them stay with us. She would give her last £10 to help anyone out. “Everyone is writing on Facebook how she took them in when they were kicked out or struggling and had nowhere to go.” Amber says she is currently staying in a hotel as she can’t face going back to her family home. “I’d rather go out with my mum than my friends,” she added. “Anyone I’d speak to would say it wasn’t a normal mother-daughter relationship. “We used to tell each other everything. Everyone was jealous of our friendship. She never judged me. “I’ve been staying in a hotel because I can’t be in the house thinking she’s in the next room. She had been going through a lot of different things and had been through a lot throughout her life. She just wanted to be happy.” A British Transport Police spokesperson confirmed Jill’s death is not being treated as suspicious and a file is being prepared for the coroner. Amber is now making arrangements for her mum’s funeral. She plans to scatter her ashes with Jill’s late 19-year-old dog Benson at her request. She also hopes to attend university this year – something the mum and daughter duo had hoped to do together – to study business studies. The pair had dreams of owning their own pub and turning it into a franchise. “I’m going to make sure I finish it for her,” Amber added. The devastated daughter has since set up a Gofundme appeal to help give her mum ‘the best send off’. It reads: “This beautiful woman is my mum, Jill Parton but most of you know her as Jill Canovan. My mum was the kindest person with a heart of gold that lit up every room she walked into. “She would stop at nothing to help everyone. My mum was my world and anyone that knows us knows we didn’t have just a mother daughter relationship, she was my best friend. “I’ve set up this Gofundme to help cover the funeral costs and give her the best send off possible. I know how loved she was, I just wish she knew it too. So please help me raise some money to say thank you.”
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