TRIBUTES have been paid to a much loved teacher, wife and mother who died at the age of just 57.

Rosa Garcia Cox, who taught Spanish in schools across Lancashire, died on December 23 after being diagnosed with a rare cancer earlier in the year.

Husband Martyn Cox, who is the deputy leader of Bolton Council, led the tributes to his wife.

He said: “We are all heartbroken by Rosa’s death she was hugely popular and she will be greatly missed by all who knew her. Rosa was cared for throughout her illness by a large and loving family who will never quite get over the loss.”

Rosa grew up in Madrid and qualified as an English teacher before moving to Bolton in 1997. The couple raised their family ­— Andrew, aged 18, Marianne, aged 16 and Carolina, aged 31 ­— in Lostock.

Rosa worked in a freelance capacity to fit around her family and friends.

She worked as a modern foreign languages teacher, which she was said to have very much enjoyed. She also worked as a translator and also put on classes in Spanish cooking.

“She loved her family and friends, they were her passion,” said Cllr Cox. “Rosa knew people from all over the world.”