THE family of a dedicated youth worker from Rettendon has paid tribute to the mother-of-two after she was found unconscious at the foot of an oak tree.
Stacey Hansell, 33, was found by a neighbour in a field behind Meadow Road on Sunday (June 8) and rushed to hospital but was pronounced dead hours later.
An inquest opened into her death at Chelmsford Coroner's Court on Friday (June 13). It is not being treated as suspicious and grieving family members believe it could have been a tragic accident.
Partner Mark Hook praised the woman who changed the lives of some 200 youngsters.
"She was the catalyst to making sure people changed their lives," said the 37-year-old.
"She was an advocate of what should be good in all of us in terms of being completely selfless all the time.
"Her greatest achievement would be that she helped the young people she worked with reach their achievements.
"She was just the most talented person in her field."
Miss Hansell, an ex-Our Lady Immaculate R C Primary School and St John Payne School student, had worked for Essex County Council for nearly five years - and was promoted three times."Her children were her life"
While journeying to centres across the county working with children at risk of exclusion from school, she also juggled her professional qualifications.
She was expected to scoop a first class degree from the London-based YMCA George Williams College.
When not at work, Mr Hook said she devoted her time to her house, garden and her son, nine, and 13-year-old daughter.
"They were her life," he said.
Mr Hook and her family do not know why Miss Hansell was at the tree, on a night he describes as like "any other".
Emergency services drove onto the field following the 999 call and took her to Broomfield Hospital but to no avail.
Her family believe it could be nothing more than a "tragic accident".
"We don't know the full details, just that she was found by a close friend and there is now a full inquest," said Mr Hook.
The inquest opening on Friday at Chelmsford Coroner's Court heard how, as a registered donor, Miss Hansell's organs had been donated."An inspiration"
"She was giving," said 85-year-old neighbour Irene Spurgeon, whose garden backs on to the field where floral tributes decorate the foot of the tree.
"I was devastated when I found out," she added.
"She was good natured, a hard worker and I always thought she was a strong willed and strong minded person so I never really expected anything like that to happen."
Miss Hansell is also survived by her sister and heartbroken mother Jayne Cotton.
Paying further tribute, Ms Cotton said: "Our Stacey certainly made a difference to our lives.
"She was able to make us laugh so much with her sense of humour, she cared for everyone, good or bad, who came into her life, and now she has made us sad.
"Even though she probably didn't know it, in recent years she taught me so much.
"She was an inspiration to us all. Our own special Angel."
Head of Essex youth service Michael O'Brien said: "Stacey was the very essence of life and had a positive effect on all she came into contact with. She will be deeply missed by all her colleagues"
