A Reading woman with an extremely rare lung disorder who “doctors said wouldn’t live to 20” has passed away aged 47.

A funeral was held for Kate Vose, from Woodley, who lived with Hyper IgE immunodeficiency, last Tuesday, after she died from respiratory failure and severe bronchiectasis.

Dozens of operations in her life - the first before her second birthday - did not stop her from working, travelling, and even getting a tattoo across her scars which read: ‘The scar remains, reminds me that I’m still living’.

“I felt disbelief and overwhelming grief and sadness but also it seemed so unfair. She had wanted to die at home and it seemed especially cruel she didn’t get that wish – her decline was too sudden,” said friend of 20 years Juliet England, who had lunch with Kate two days before she died.

Hyper IgE immunodeficiency affects one in a million people.

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A Eulogy written by her husband Richard Vose was read at Reading Crematorium alongside a poem read by her sister Ellie, before mourners listened to Kate’s favourite bands like Green Day.

Richard told the Chronicle: "I was lucky to spend the last 28 years with this wonderful, kind and thoughtful person who I loved very much."

He continued: "Kate was taken from us far too soon at the age of just 47, but she wouldn’t want us to mourn her death, but instead celebrate her life and everything she overcame and achieved.

"Despite the massive odds stacked against her Kate always approached life with a sideways smile and positive attitude. Never complaining about her problems and always thinking of others. 

"The strength and courage she showed is an inspiration to us all and she will be missed by anyone who had the privilege and good fortune to know her."

Juilet, who met Kate while working alongside her at the British Dyslexia Association in 1999, described her as vibrant, witty, savvy, sharp, compassionate, animal-loving and a legendary cook.

“She was always there to listen and offer practical and emotional help, whether you had a relationship crisis, you needed to know how to make the perfect shortbread or the latest plot twist in Line of Duty explaining.”

Kate spoke to the Chronicle in 2014 about her condition, describing how she knew it was unlikely she would live to 50 years-old.

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“I don’t think we talk enough about death in this country, and we find it hard to accept that it will happen to all of us,” she wrote, explaining how she had contacted the Swiss assisted suicide organisation Dignitas while symptoms caused by the disorder were particularly bad.

After the experience, she said: “For me, for now, it’s all about life, not death.”

Kate was Berkshire coordinator for the British Hen Welfare Trust since 2015 and her husband has organised a fundraiser for the charity in her memory, which can be found here.