TRIBUTES have been paid to a bubbly fun-loving woman who was killed in a road accident in Qatar.
Kerry Rome, 33, died instantly when she was hit by a motorcycle while crossing the road. She had lived in Doha in Qatar since October working as a technical director for Al Jazeera English language television network.
She started working for the network in 2008 and lived in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia up until her move to Doha.
Her mother Margaret and her stepfather Mike Dench paid tribute to Kerry, who was married to Mark Harris, 35, from Market Deeping.
Kerry was also the much-loved daughter of Roy Rome, who lives in Peterborough, and youngest sister of Kirsty and Emma, as well as the aunt of Kirsty’s children Daisy, two, and Harry, four.
Mrs Dench said: “Kerry had such an amazing life and an appetite for life. She was so bubbly and full of life.
“The whole family just miss her so much. We are still in shock.”
Mr Harris said: “She lived life to the max. Words can’t do her justice. She used to take me on a rollercoaster ride, always saying, ‘come on Mark, next step’.”
Mr and Mrs Dench said Kerry particularly enjoyed travelling to places like Bali and Vietnam, but would mix with everyone she met.
Mrs Dench said: “She loved people, especially children. She travelled all over the world but wherever she went, she would mix with the locals. She was always happy and had a smile on her face.
“Everyone used to say she made them feel better and we have had so many messages of condolence from all the people she touched.”
The motorcycle accident happened on Friday, April 20. Mr and Mrs Dench, who lives in Northorpe Lane, Thurlby, then flew to Qatar to bring Kerry home.
They attended a memorial service there with more than 100 of Kerry’s colleagues, which was organised by Al Jazeera English.
The service raised more than £600 for an orangutan sanctuary in Borneo, which Kerry had visited.
Mrs Dench said: “She loved her work and got such a buzz from it. I feel so proud of her and what she did.
“Her life was short but she did so much.”
In a tribute, Ahmed bin Jassim Al Thani, the director general of Al Jazeera English, said: “Kerry was dedicated to her profession and always gave her best to the job that she loved.”
Kerry had last visited the UK in Christmas, 2010, and had been due to return for a fortnight this week.
She grew up in Thurlby and attended the village primary school, before going on to study at Bourne Grammar School, Stamford College and Buckinghamshire University, where she gained a degree in film with media studies and video production.
Her first job was at Ideal World in Peterborough and she also worked for Snatch It, Granada TV and Setanta Sports before going to work for Al Jazeera English where she was the first female technical director of live news.
Kerry married Mark in a fun ceremony in Graceland Chapel in Las Vegas in August last year, where they were serenaded by an Elvis singer.
A private family cremation will be held on Monday.
It will be followed by a memorial service at St Firmin’s Church, Thurlby at 1.30pm and the family hope as many people as possible attend.
Donations will be taken for When You Wish Upon A Star.
The family has also set up a donation page so people can donate in her memory.
Credit: Photo courtesy of Stamford Mercury
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