I WISH to comment on the article "Family anguish at funeral cost" (February 17).

My deepest sympathy goes to Mr Rae on the sad loss of his wife and to his children. My mother died in the hospice on February 1 and I knew of his wife.

My concern is to the fact that Mr Rae's wife "died in so much pain" and I feel this reflects badly on the staff. No one dies in pain, not when there is such excellent care. My mother was a patient for ten weeks and was never allowed to suffer and she also died of cancer.

This comment gives a bad picture of the care received from the staff and all the volunteers. It has made my mother's death a lot easier to bear knowing she died in such a wonderful place.

Miss G Walker,

Acomb Wood Close,

Woodthorpe, York.

Updated: 10:13 Tuesday, February 24, 2004