Mystery over ‘heartbreaking’ message in a bottle that left people in tears is solved as bereaved daughter reveals her late mother’s final wishes
The daughter of a woman who always longed to travel has made her dream come true after her death.
Single mum of five Wendy Chadwick always dreamed of seeing the world but could only manage holidays in the UK.
Earlier this year, Wendy, 51, had started making plans to travel, but passed away suddenly in February.
Now her daughter, Cara, has thrown her mum’s ashes into the sea, with an accompanying note: ‘This is my mum. Throw her back in, she’s travelling the world.’
Her posts have now gone viral on social media.
Cara, 24, from Oldham, says: ‘Mum was the glue that held us all together, she gave everything for her kids.
We went on holidays to Devon and Wales, and she was always happiest on a beach. She loved the beach in Devon especially.
‘She used to say she dreamed of travelling abroad and this year, she finally started to make plans.
Single mother of five Wendy, 51, always dreamed of seeing the world – but passed away suddenly this year, before having the opportunity
She didn’t care where she went as long as it was sunny and she had sand in her toes.
‘Her death was devastating, but I love the idea that now she’s seeing the world, just as she’d always wanted.’
Wendy, from Oldham, raised her five children, Rachel, 29, Marshall, 27, Cara, Kai, 22, and Callan, 21, on her own.
‘She was also a carer for her mother, Audrey, and brother, Richard, both of whom have now passed away.
Cara says: Growing up, we had everything she could give us.
According to Wendy’s daughter Cara, while growing up, the children had ‘everything she could give us’
After Wendy’s funeral, Cara had the sweet idea of throwing her mother’s ashes in the sea so she ‘could see the world’
Cara noted that as a mother, Wendy never missed birthdays or Christmases, and always attended important events like school plays
‘She went overboard at Christmas and birthdays and we always had parties.
‘She never missed a school play or an assembly.
‘She loved going on holiday, her favourite place was the beach, but she didn’t have time or money to go abroad.
‘But we had good times in the UK.’
Gran of six Wendy dreamed of travelling the world when her children were grown up and this year had finally started planning a trip.
FAMILY: Cara has explained that family was very important to Wendy, who was a mother of five, and grandmother of six
Despite wanting to see the world, Wendy was always happy wherever she went – as long as it was warm and she could visit a beach
Cara says: ‘She said she didn’t mind where she went as long as she was on the beach and it was hot.
We really thought this could be something for her, at long last, after looking after people her whole life.’
But in February this year, Wendy was found passed away in her home, from undiagnosed heart disease.
Cara says: ‘We were shell-shocked. We didn’t know she had heart problems, and neither did she.
‘My brother and sister went to check on her, and I was on the phone. I heard them scream and I knew Mum was gone.’
Wendy’s death, at the age of just 51-year-sold came as a terrible shock to her children, according to Cara
In keeping with Wendy’s wish to see the world, Cara threw her ashes into the sea – and hopes they will travel around the globe
Cara now says she hopes that her mother is ‘bobbing around somewhere warm, enjoying the sun and the sea, and she can achieve her dream at last’
Following Wendy’s funeral, Cara had originally planned to scatter her ashes on a beach at Butlins in Skegness, where they had happy childhood memories.
‘But she then had the idea of throwing the ashes into the sea, so Wendy could see the world.
She says: ‘It was very emotional, but I knew she’d love it. I wrote a note asking people to throw her back in.
‘Incredibly, I saw a Facebook post that someone had actually found her and thrown her back in already.
‘Hopefully she’s bobbing around somewhere warm, enjoying the sun and the sea, and she can achieve her dream at last.’
