Christmas is a time of togetherness and those absent from festivities can be missed intensely. Three families share tales of the special decorations they hang on the tree to remember loved ones lost.
Every year Avril and Gordon Samuel hang a star on their tree in memory of their daughter Katie Haines, who died of carbon monoxide poisoning two months after her wedding.
"Katie got engaged to Richard on her 30th birthday," said Mrs Samuel. "She was so excited and decided almost immediately that they should have a winter wedding near our Cotswolds home on 12 December 2009.
"Christmas was always her most favourite time of the year. She thought it would be lovely to give each guest a Christmas decoration, so that their wedding would be remembered each year.
"We looked everywhere and then I saw on an American website these pretty, star-like tree decorations - Katie thought they were perfect.
"My husband and I were going to New York on business and so we ordered them to be sent to our hotel and brought them back to England.
"Katie then added burgundy and cream ribbons to them and wrote each person's name on the little card attached.
"Katie and Richard's wedding was beautiful and it was, without a doubt, the happiest day of her life.
"Two months later, after returning from honeymoon in South America, Katie died of accidental carbon monoxide poisoning in her home - Richard and his parents were also poisoned but survived.
"We decided to set up a trust in Katie's name to raise awareness of the silent killer.
"Each year we put up Katie's wedding decoration - as do many of her friends - and we remember the beautiful times with our lovely daughter."
Every year Avril and Gordon Samuel hang a star on their tree in memory of their daughter Katie Haines, who died of carbon monoxide poisoning two months after her wedding.
"Katie got engaged to Richard on her 30th birthday," said Mrs Samuel. "She was so excited and decided almost immediately that they should have a winter wedding near our Cotswolds home on 12 December 2009.
"Christmas was always her most favourite time of the year. She thought it would be lovely to give each guest a Christmas decoration, so that their wedding would be remembered each year.
"We looked everywhere and then I saw on an American website these pretty, star-like tree decorations - Katie thought they were perfect.
"My husband and I were going to New York on business and so we ordered them to be sent to our hotel and brought them back to England.
"Katie then added burgundy and cream ribbons to them and wrote each person's name on the little card attached.
"Katie and Richard's wedding was beautiful and it was, without a doubt, the happiest day of her life.
"Two months later, after returning from honeymoon in South America, Katie died of accidental carbon monoxide poisoning in her home - Richard and his parents were also poisoned but survived.
"We decided to set up a trust in Katie's name to raise awareness of the silent killer.
"Each year we put up Katie's wedding decoration - as do many of her friends - and we remember the beautiful times with our lovely daughter."
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