Grace Billows, 15, was found dead following a suspected epileptic seizure
Tributes have flooded in for a ‘vibrant’ schoolgirl who was found dead just hours after her mum saw her getting ready for school. Grace Billows died on Tuesday, February 11 after being found unconscious on her bedroom floor by her mum Lisa, who had returned home from a hospital appointment.
Lisa, 62, told the ECHO how she had left home in Bootle that morning to take her youngest daughter Alice to hospital. When they left, Lisa said Grace was doing her hair before leaving to go to school, but when she returned from the hospital she found her unconscious on her bedroom floor.
The 15-year-old’s cause of death is yet to be confirmed, but mum Lisa, 62, believes it is likely to have been the result of an epileptic seizure. Grace, who was in her final year of Sacred Heart Catholic Academy in Crosby, was diagnosed with epilepsy last year and also lived with Coeliac disease, but her mum explained how it never stopped her pursuing her passions.
Lisa told the ECHO: “She was vibrant and so full of life. She was stubborn, she was sarcastic and she would always make you laugh with the things that would come out of her mouth. She loved her history, if you started a conversation with her you couldn’t stop her.
“She was so full of life and she had so much to live for, so many plans. She was going to join KGV [in Southport] when she finished school to study history, English literature, English language and drama.
“She loved history so much, it was her life. She would watch history TV shows, she knew so much. I was so proud of her, she was doing so well, she really was. She was so helpful, she would always helpful around the house. She had OCD so she was so clean and tidy.”
Tributes have flooded in from ECHO readers after news of Grace’s tragic death. Donna Rush said: “So, so sad. She will be missed dearly.” Dawn Fumagalli added: “Grace was a lovely girl. She will be sadly missed by everyone who had the pleasure of knowing her.”
Amanda Jane Smith said: “So sad. What a beautiful girl she looks as well. Feel for her family.” Nicola Griffiths added: “My thoughts and prayers go out to her family and friends. R.I.P. Grace, shine bright and keep watching over your family.” Paula Nash said: “Oh my. This is so sad. Life can be very cruel – unbearable for the family and friends.”
Grace’s mum Lisa, a full-time carer, said she had booked to go shopping with Grace to buy her prom dress before her sudden death. She said: “My daughter would have gone on to be something, she would have made it in life. We had plans together, we were meant to be going shopping this Tuesday for her prom dress.”
Grace’s funeral will be held at Thornton Crematorium on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, at 10.30am. All enquiries are to be made to Debbie Bennett Funeral Directors.