Nurse's behaviour changed, then she died just 13 days after diagnosis

Nurse's behaviour changed, then she died just 13 days after diagnosisShe was a proud mother to her childrenNewsNeil Shaw Assistant Editor (Money and Lifestyle)06:49, 23 Apr 2026Updated 06:49, 23 Apr 2026View 8 ImagesJeannie died in Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice on November 11, aged 58 (Collect/PA Real LifeA “beautiful” nurse who died just 13 days after doctors discovered a cancerous brain tumour told her eldest daughter on the day of her diagnosis: “I know you’re really going to miss me.” Jean Branch, known affectionately as Jeannie, was a “proud” mother to her four children – Christopher, 38, Lewis, 36, Nancy Simmons, 30, and Polly, 22 – and nanny to her grandchildren.‌Jeannie juggled multiple jobs while raising her children, and Nancy said she loved clothing, shoes and skincare products, adding that she always “looked perfect”. In 2013, the mother-of-four was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma – a type of blood cancer which affects white blood cells – and reached remission in 2014, before relapsing in 2016 and reaching remission again in 2019.‌However, in October 2025, Jeannie started behaving strangely, she was forgetful and even locked herself out of her house on October 27, and she soon stopped communicating and responding properly to her children. On October 29, after taking her to hospital, doctors said they discovered a cancerous brain tumour and there was “nothing they could do”, and Jeannie later died in Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice on November 11, aged 58.‌View 8 ImagesPolly described her mother as ‘strong, independent and incredible’ (Collect/PA Real Life)The family are now fundraising to give back to the hospice which cared for Jeannie before she died, saying it is helping them feel “closer” to her. Speaking about the moments before she died, Nancy told PA Real Life: “About five minutes before this, my brother was opening up a chair and he snapped it.“Since he goes to the gym all the time, he made a joke about breaking it an...