THE younger daughter of ‘one of Kendal’s most courageous families’ has died, aged 29, after a short illness.

Siobhan Mary Garnett was born at Royal Lancaster Infirmary on June 4 1986. She was diagnosed with Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) at birth, and did not make a sound for the first three weeks of her life.

Siobhan attended Dean Gibson Primary School, Kendal, before moving to the town's Sandgate School for the rest of her education. This included many extra-curricular activities, and she quickly fell in love with horse-riding, farming, and singing.

She enjoyed horse riding with the Riding for the Disabled Association and, in 2005, won the National Riding for the Disabled Championship in her senior pony and rider class at an event in Gloucestershire. She graciously decided not to defend her title the following year, saying humbly: "I should let the other kids have a chance."

Wherever Siobhan went, she made connections. Her opening gambit, 'What Colour's Your Hoover?', borne out of a need to establish the whereabouts of hoovers in shops or houses (Siobhan had extra sensitive hearing) became the title of her father Will's 2001 book about the family's close relationship with the medical services.

In addition to Siobhan's PWS, mum Therese was diagnosed six months later with MS. Will also suffered a detached retina a couple of years later.

Siobhan attended the River View Day Centre once a week, supporting her mum and other clients. Her mum's Leonard Cheshire principal carer, Janice Pickering, shared Siobhan's love of animals, and became a huge part of her life.

Trips around the South Lakes on a weekend made them familiar faces, especially at the Maize Maze at Sedgwick, near Kendal, where Siobhan loved petting or grooming the animals.

She had a natural affinity with animals, and remembered the name of each and every pet introduced to her.

At the same time, she had a regular round of visits to individual farms, where she would engage in deep and meaningful discussion on the progress of tupping, shearing and other important features of farming.

Though raised a Catholic, Siobhan regularly attended Sandylands Methodist Church. Both communities played large roles in her life, such as her pilgrimage to Lourdes in 1987 with her mum, Thérèse, who passed away in August 2014, or singing hymns and making coffee at Sandylands. She loved the companionship of the adults there, and was firm but fair when providing support in the creche.

Siobhan was an important cog in Sunbeams music from its inception in the 1990s. In later years she was in charge of the provisions side, organising drinks and biscuits for children attending.

After she finished at Sandgate, she moved to what her father describes as the 'single most effective investment of taxpayers' money for those with disabilities': Horticare. Here she learned real gardening skills, in a disciplined environment, surrounded by caring staff.

The increase in self-confidence and sense of independence gained enabled her to take the step into independent living in sheltered accommodation run by the Fairoak organisation.

She was flourishing here at the time of her untimely death. She will be greatly missed by her father Will, sister Catherine, brothers Ciaran and Liam and niece Eva Rose; and by the wider South Lakes community.

"But, while deeply mourning her loss, we should also acknowledge that her 29 years were packed with rich experiences, love, and enjoyment," said her father Will. "She never let her disabilities hold her back, and she lived life to the full. Siobhan will be remembered as well as missed."

* Siobhan's funeral service was held today at Sandylands Methodict Church at Kendal, which was packed with people wanting to pay their respects.