A DEVOTED teacher who dedicated her life to St Mary’s RC Primary School in Burnley has died, aged 49, of pancreatic cancer.

Paula Helm, a former pupil at the school, trained to become a teacher and returned to the school in Holcombe Drive, where for much of her 27-year career she was known to parents and pupils as Mrs Giltrow-Shaw.

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Mrs Helm, from Bacup, first taught for 17 years in the nursery class, followed by Years 1 and 2 in the infant department.

Her commitment to the school saw her rise to the rank of assistant headteacher, and her work as RE co-ordinator garnered high praise from Ofsted inspectors.

She was passionate about music, and frequently encouraged her pupils to sing. She led the school choir for many years and took students to perform at concerts and competitions and in care homes. She married her husband Graham in 2012 and he shared her enthusiasm for music.

Liz Wilkinson, Mrs Helm’s second cousin, said: “She had incredibly generous heart and spirit. She was encouragingly and playfully ambitious for not only herself, but her children. She will be sorely missed by everyone who knew her, and especially her family.”

In January she mentioned she was not feeling well and planned to visit her doctor the same evening, but never returned to school because of her illness, and a month later she was diagnosed with the disease.

Mrs Helm was treated at Royal Blackburn Hospital and died in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

With Mrs Helm’s family, the school has arranged to hold an evening service at St Mary’s to celebrate her life. The date is yet to be set, but the service will be open to all former pupils, the parish community and anyone who knew her.

As well as her husband, Mrs Helm leaves her son, Laurence, 24, and daughter, Chloe, 23. The funeral will be held on Friday, September 19, at Bacup Central Methodist Church, at 9.30am. Cremation will be at Burnley at noon.