Tributes have been paid to a bubbly and kind mother of three who passed away unexpectedly in November.

Denise Johnson from Ipswich, died on Thursday, November 24, at just 42 years of age.

She leaves behind her three children, Lauren, 24, Chloe, 23 and Elliot, 14, grandson Keaton, 3, her mum, Susan, brother Sam, sister Emily and her husband of 19 years, Darren, who she met when she was just 15.

Ipswich Star: Denise with her family, husband Darren and children, Lauren, Chloe and ElliotDenise with her family, husband Darren and children, Lauren, Chloe and Elliot (Image: Emily Clack)

Ipswich Star: Denise with her husband who she met when they were 15, DarrenDenise with her husband who she met when they were 15, Darren (Image: Emily Clack)

Denise's sister, Emily Clack, said: "She was a very bubbly, kind, caring and considerate person.

"She didn't have much but she would still offer to help people where she could.

"She liked to help people. She was training to be a social worker so that she could help people but unfortunately, she couldn't complete her training.

"We didn't expect to lose her, it was a complete and utter shock."

Ipswich Star: Denise with her sister EmilyDenise with her sister Emily (Image: Emily Clack)

Ipswich Star: Denise when she was youngDenise when she was young (Image: Emily Clack)

Denise home-schooled her youngest, Elliot, as well as writing a blog on the side called Mum on a Mission.

She also had three dogs which were her "whole world", Leo, Cody and Prince, which she enjoyed taking to dog shows.

Denise was diagnosed with stage one breast cancer last year in November, undergoing two operations, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Ipswich Star: Denise and her three children, Elliot, Chloe and LaurenDenise and her three children, Elliot, Chloe and Lauren (Image: Emily Clack)

Emily said: "She was really positive and very brave throughout.

"I actually think she was more positive about it all than the rest of us.

"But when she was having the radiotherapy, she was getting a lot of pain."

She had blood tests done and was admitted to hospital in the early hours of August 13.

Ipswich Star: Denise when youngerDenise when younger (Image: Emily Clack)

She found out she had gallstones blocking her bile duct, and she needed to have a procedure called an ERCP.

Emily continued: There is a risk with the procedure, which I think affects around five in 100 people where they can get pancreatitis.

"Unfortunately, Denise was one of those people that got it, and she also got sepsis and renal failure.

Ipswich Star: Denise and DarrenDenise and Darren (Image: Emily Clack)

"She had the procedure done on August 19, and my brother-in-law was on her way to pick her up and take her home but he got a call saying she had taken a turn for the worse."

Within 48 hours of the procedure, Denise was put into critical care.

Emily said: "Critical care was amazing.

"They put her straight on dialysis and her kidneys were fine, so she was able to continue on as normal."

Ipswich Star: Denise with grandson KeatonDenise with grandson Keaton (Image: Emily Clack)

Denise stayed in the Stowupland Ward of Ipswich Hospital from August, until the Tuesday before she passed away due to pancreatitis and sepsis.

That Tuesday before her passing, however, she was transferred back to critical care because she got pneumonia, and had to be put into an induced coma the morning of her passing.

The cause of death is currently being discussed at the coroner's court.

Emily has set up a GoFundMe page, to help with funeral costs.

Ipswich Star: Denise JohnsonDenise Johnson (Image: Emily Clack)

She said: "Due to the fact that it was an early diagnosis of breast cancer, there was no reason for Denise to need to set up a will or life insurance.

"In addition to trying to cope with the grieving process, my brother-in-law now has got the strain of the funeral costs.

"A basic funeral can cost at least £3,000 and there's no way my brother-in-law can afford that, nor us as a family.

"My sister was taken far too young so we want to give her as good a send-off as we can do for her."

So far, the GoFundMe page has raised £1,680.

Emily said: "Since setting up the page, it's actually made me realise there are still a lot of lovely genuine people out there, which is really nice to see."

Emily finished by saying: "Denise will be missed beyond measure, but will forever remain alive in our hearts."

Ipswich Star: Denise with grandson KeatonDenise with grandson Keaton (Image: Emily Clack)

Ipswich Star: Denise JohnsonDenise Johnson (Image: Emily Clack)