THE family of Helena Oldroyd described her as the “most loving, beautiful and caring” person you could know.
Gemma Oldroyd has paid tribute to her 20-year-old sister Helena who was killed in a car crash in Kirkburton last Thursday.
Helena’s older sister Gemma said her parents should be proud for raising a woman who was loved by so many.
And she said they were planning to celebrate Helena’s life, despite the tragedy.
Speaking on behalf of her parents Janet and Michael Oldroyd, Gemma, 24, said: “It is such a shock for us all and we are so devastated by what has happened, but we are trying to remember all the good times we had and there are many.
“The messages and support we have had are unbelievable.
“So many of her friends have got in touch, they’ve left messages on Facebook and the one thing everyone has said was how much she smiled.
“We’ve received cards and flowers and letters off people we’ve never even met.
“We really are touched by all the amazing things people have told us.
“Parents of friends whose houses she stayed over at have said to my parents “you should be so proud of your daughter, she was such a lovely girl” – which is nice for us to be able to read because everyone has such nice things to say about her.
“I think it shows my parents what a brilliant job they did bringing her up because she was so happy.
“It is comforting for us to read the messages because it shows us how much Helena meant to everyone.”
Helena grew up in Mirfield and was a pupil at Castle Hall High School.
She later attended Huddersfield New College where she studied media, German and English.
Helena went to Huddersfield University and studied food and nutrition for a year before getting a full time job.
She lived in Mirfield until around two years ago when she moved to Shelley.
Gemma added: “She was a loving sister to me, very caring too.
“We could always have a laugh together and she was such a smiling and beautiful person.
“We were always very close, we looked up to each other.
“She was such a social person, she was out every weekend in Huddersfield mainly and was on her way out when it happened.
“She had lots of friends who are all devastated by what has happened.
“She loved shopping and animals and had a dog.
“At school she was very clever and sporty too. She was also brilliant at languages.
“She loved music and one of her favourite bands were the Kings of Leon who she went to see last December and absolutely loved.
“She played the guitar too. I don’t know how good she was at it but music was a big part of her life.
“When she was younger she used to go horse-riding.”
Gemma, a Leeds University graduate, said the family were planning her funeral and a celebration of Helena’s life.
“All we can do is celebrate her life, the joy she brought to so many people and we’re all so grateful to have known her.
“We don’t know how it happened yet and we are all in shock still about it.
“It is so tragic it’s happened so close to home, you could never expect these kinds of things to happen and we’re just remembering the good times.
“She loved life and really lived it to the full.
“I think the past few years are among the happiest we’ve all had which I’m glad about.
“I am proud that she was able to touch so many lives and that she was my sister.”
