Family's heartbreak at sudden death of Stourport dad-of-nine

Stourport builder Roody Smith, aged 40, died within two days of developing sepsis on October 4. 

A funeral was held for the late businessman, who ran his own company R Smith General Builders, at St Ambrose's Catholic Church in Kidderminster on Monday (October 24).

The funeral of Roody Smith (Image: Facebook)

Gelly Da Barr Smith, his wife of 21 years, said he was admitted to the intensive care unit at Worcester Royal Hospital and died within 48 hours at the beginning of the month. 

The 39-year-old said her husband was "well respected in the Kidderminster and Stourport area" and “got the send-off he served.”

The funeral convoy (Image: Facebook)

She told The Shuttle: "He was a fun-loving guy - he used to go to the pub at the weekend. He loved going on holidays with his children"

"He got poorly with sepsis. He died within 48 hours.

"Infection overtook his blood and there was nothing we could do.

"It was a very heartbreaking tragedy what happened to Roody. He had nine kids".

The Smith family on the day of the funeral (Image: Facebook)

She said that the Smith and the Maughan families are "very grateful" for the "respect" shown at the funeral.

Mrs Smith added that she was saddened about violence that happened outside during the funeral.

He is survived by his children, Roody Smith, aged 18, Patrick Smith, aged 16, Nikita Smith, aged 15, Indiana Smith, aged 12, Amira Smith, aged 9, Issac Smith, aged 8, Shanice Smith, aged 5, Harper Smith, aged two, Martina Smith, aged one.