Tributes paid to 'Queen Jean' who had 150 grandchildren and great-grandchildren

Tributes have been paid to a loved Liverpool nan, who died aged 90, who had over 150 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

The ECHO recently reported how mum-of-10 Jean Clark, from Speke, had nearly 200 direct living descendants in her lifetime. Back in 2021, Jean had 47 grandchildren, 115 great grandchildren and 15 great great grandchildren - but there has since been more additions to the family.

Jean, who loved "bingo, Benidorm and big family parties" died on October 4 - but has left a massive legacy to loved ones and the wider community. At one point, her family thought she could also hold the Guinness book of records title for the largest living family in the world.

Paying tribute, granddaughter Christine Bird, 49, said for Jean, "family came before everything." Many people who knew Jean through the years, as well as ECHO readers, have since paid further tributes.

On the Liverpool ECHO's Facebook page, Susan Jones said: "Sounds like Jean was a lovely lady. R.I.P. Jean. God Bless her family xx." Heather Kins said: "Very lucky lady to have so many loving relatives....a lot don't have one single person."

Pictured Jean with granddaughter Christine, her son Alfie, and Christine's own grandchildren Tyler, Kai and Olivia. — Jean with granddaughter Christine, her son Alfie, and Christine's own grandchildren Tyler, Kai and Olivia. (Image: Christine Bird)

Michelle Slack commented: "God bless xx." Sue Hall wrote: "Known Jean all my life , she was one of a kind and is sadly missed by all who knew her. Rest easy Jean, thinking of you all Chris xx."

Jean Worrall wrote: "RIP Jean, thinking of all the families." Pam Deville commented: "Wow amazing, thinking of you all xxx."

Adama Kamara said: "R.I.P Amen." Avis Skyets commented: "May her soul rest in peace."

And Rose Mchugh wrote: "Thinking of all the fam x." On our website, Edwardo76 wrote: "The matriarch of the family. Hope the family doesn’t fall apart! RIP Jean…. Your job is done x."

Liverbird51 commented: "Rest in peace Jean." Knowho2trust posted: "Rest in peace, a real queen."

Tibbetmonk posted: "They look like such a happy hardworking family. RIP Queen." And Myworld said: "RIP Jean."

Jean Clark, from Speke, who had over 150 grandchildren and great-grandchildren, has died at the age of 90. Pictured here with her son, Micky — Jean Clark with her son, Micky (Image: Photo courtesy of Christine Bird)

Jean's granddaughter Christine recently told the ECHO: "She was just a real all-round family woman, she loved her family. She just loved company.

"She was lovely, funny, down to Earth, bubbly, but also very straight. If she had something to say she'd let you know.

"She absolutely loved the bingo. She loved Benidorm, she loved a cruise, she loved her family and she loved a big family party. Her birthday is December 21, so for the last 10 years or so we've had a big party for her every year where we all get together and celebrate her.

"We’re still going to do something to celebrate her birthday this year." Christine previously told the ECHO her nan had been on her own for years and raised her 10 children pretty much single-handedly.

Sadly, out of 10 children, she lost one at six weeks to cot death and one of her daughters developed leukaemia and died aged 12. Jean also lost her daughter Julie, Christine's mum, in 2017 after a battle with cancer.

Her surviving children are Sue, Tony, Sandy, Jackie, Sammy, Micky and Karen - and Jean's family and legacy continues to grow. Christine said: "She had a little, tatty, old birthday book - a little black book and all the birthdays used to go in that.

Jean Clark, from Speke, who had over 150 grandchildren and great-grandchildren, has died at the age of 90. Pictured here with son Tony and daughter Julie — Jean with son Tony and daughter Julie (Image: Photo courtesy of Christine Bird)

"It was actually falling to pieces at one point and I said 'nan can I buy you a new book' and she said 'you can sod off if you think I'm writing all those birthdays out again.' She has loads of pictures with newborns in the family, but whenever there was a new baby she’d have to have her hair done.

"We'd ask, can we have a picture or selfie with the new baby, and she’d say no not yet I've not had my hair done." After appearing in the ECHO in 2021, Jean also declined an invitation to go on ITV's This Morning.

Christine said she wanted everyone to know how wonderful her nan was and that Jean had said "'I've had my name in the paper, that will do me just fine." Christine said: "She was made up, she was very proud, she had little pieces of the ECHO put up on the wall in her flat."

Jean Clark, from Speke, who had over 150 grandchildren and great-grandchildren, has died at the age of 90. Pictured here with her granddaughter, Christine Bird — Jean Clark with her granddaughter, Christine Bird (Image: Photo courtesy of Christine Bird)

Christine also said her nan's funeral was "absolutely packed," with all the guests unable to fit in the church. She said the family were also warmed by the kind messages and memories shared on social media about their "queen" Jean.

Christine said: "She was from Speke and I put a post on the Speke past and present group on Facebook about her. The amount of people who commented - it just goes to show how well loved she was.

"It was warming. It was just so lovely to hear peoples stories about my nan.

"It just meant a lot and it was very comforting for the whole family. How I'm feeling is how the whole family is feeling - she’s left a massive void. She really was our queen."

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