A BRIGHT pink hearse moved slowly through the streets of Southend as part of a touching tribute to Felicia Cantone, who recently lost her fight with cancer.

The funeral for Miss Cantone, 23, was held yesterday afternoon, with close family and friends wearing pink to give her the best send off they could.

Felicia inspired thousands of people after battling Ewing Sarcoma - a rare form of cancer that develops in the bones - since the age of six. She lost her life earlier this month.

The procession saw two hearses drive along the seafront before arriving at the Sutton Road cemetery.

Her heartbroken mum, Samantha, spoke at the service, and at the wake at the Seven Hotel.

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She said: “Felicia was special from the day she was conceived. One half of twins, she was a one in 80 chance at birth.

“She shot out first, 36 minutes before her twin sister Lottie, and that’s pretty much how she spent the rest of her life, being noticed before anyone else.

“Fle and Lottie were inseparable as kids, although anything Lottie had, Felicia took.

“At two years old she loved to climb to the top of a climbing frame. She was fearless even then.

“Two days after returning home from hospital, she was back at school seeing her friends, her social life has always been important to her.

Despite her illness, Felicia managed to complete her third year of a business studies course at Greenwich University this year, graduating with a first class degree in business management.

Felicia received her results - which took her five years due to her illness in June. But by June 21, she was told she did not have long left to live.

“Being disabled meant Felicia was allowed to drive at age 16. She’d become skilled at driving her electric wheelchair, especially by the way she reversed parked it under my hall stairs, it was really impressive.

“Later Felicia complained that she was tired of being Carlotta’s taxi service, however in the usual Felicia way she turned that negative in to a positive.

“Soon she was advertising across social media, doing a cheap lift service to all her friends.

“That was our girl always thinking ahead.”

A GoFundMe page was started to get her treatment abroad - which raised more than £22,000. The money will go to other good causes.

Bev Williams, headteacher at Belfairs Academy in Leigh, paid tribute to Felicia, saying: “I would like to offer our heartfelt condolences to Felicia’s family and friends.

“She’s remembered as a brave, determined student who radiated positivity despite the difficult circumstances surrounding her illness.

“The whole Belfairs community stands with her family and friends.

“She was a wonderful, courageous young woman who fought so hard in the face of adversity. She will remain an inspiration to all of us.”