Mark Wright’s Uncle Eddie is laid to rest following his death from Covid-19

Mark Wright’s uncle Edward ‘Eddie’ Wright was laid to rest on Thursday after he died aged 66 following an eight-week battle with Covid-19, with the virus tragically ‘tearing apart’ the family. 

And on Friday, the day after the funeral, Mark Wright’s mother Carol paid tribute to her brother-in-law in a heartfelt message shared to Instagram. 

Sharing a snap of Eddie’s funeral programme, Carol declared that the family would ‘never forget’ the patriarch, adding that the family ‘miss him everyday’. 

She penned: ‘What can I say, we miss you every day, but I’m sure you was with us yesterday whilst we celebrated your life. 

‘Your wife, daughter and sons made you proud. Your mother and father held it together the best they could. 

‘We will never forget you, and we know your always be around, especially at the party’s with your big smile. Love you RIP our eddy. X’ 

Her post garnered many sympathetic messages from followers, including Gemma Collins who wrote: ‘Eddie was a special man sending love.’ 

It comes after Mark Wright emotionally detailed how Covid ‘tore apart his family’ after six relatives all battled the deadly virus within days of each other.

Speaking in a new candid interview and video earlier this month, the former TOWIE star, 34, said that his family will ‘never be the same again’ after losing his uncle Edward to coronavirus.

Edward, whose son is Mark’s cousin Elliott Wright, tragically passed away at the beginning of March following an eight-week battle with Covid.

Speaking to The Sun, Mark wiped away tears as he said: ‘I am sat here one uncle less. He’s the heart of our family. We’re all heartbroken beyond belief. I’m trying to be there for many, many family members who are devastated.’ 

The radio presenter admitted that he was left ‘struggling to cope’ over the festive period after six family members battled coronavirus within days of each other. 

Mark revealed that as well as his uncle, both his parents – Mark. Snr, 64, and Carol, 60, another uncle Georgie, 62, his grandmother Irene, 85, and his grandfather all tested positive within days of each other despite ‘not mixing’ together.   

Reflecting on the difficult period, the TV star admitted that his ‘worry level was one million’, he emotionally added: ‘I could have lost them all.’   

Mark added that he has never been ‘that religious’ but prayed every day and night for his father who was admitted to hospital. His mother Carol and uncle Georgie were able to recover at home.    

Recalling the worrying time, the former TOWIE star admitted he was left ‘crying his eyes out’ at the thought of losing his father, adding: ‘I thought if I lose my dad, I’m never going to get over this.’ 

Mark added that he was unable to visit his father in hospital due to the pandemic and he thought he would never see him again or be able to say ‘goodbye’.   

The family were left further devastated when they received the ‘dreaded call’ that his uncle Eddie had passed away in March. 

Mark said that they had received a video of his uncle ‘moving his head’ for the first time and it was a ‘massive step’ but he tragically started to get more infections which left him ‘deteriorating overnight’.

Sharing his anger and grief, the reality star sobbed as he said: ‘He was getting better. That’s what f***ing upsets me so much.’

Reflecting on the heartbreaking time for the family, Mark admitted that he has never seen his father ‘shed a tear’ and that he ‘burst into tears’ while his dad ‘stayed strong’.

The TV star said that it was ‘the worst day of my life’ but he had to focus on his father who was ‘best mates’ with his older brother, Eddie, and ‘bottles up’ his emotions.

Mark said that it was wife Michelle Keegan who offered her support to him and told him to hug his father which left his dad ‘crying’.

The reality star admitted that it was ‘weird’ as it was a ‘moment’ with his father he has been ‘waiting for all of his life’ but it would ‘never heal the pain’ of losing his uncle. 

After a difficult few months, Mark admitted that the experience has made him ‘change his outlook on life’ and to not ‘dwell on the little things’ as life can be short.

Talking about his future plans, the TV star said that he wants to spend more time doing the ‘things he loves with the people he loves at home’ rather than being ‘too driven’ with his career. 

Mark’s uncle Edward tragically passed away in March at the age of 66, following an eight-week battle with Covid.

At the time, the TV star vowed to ‘look after his auntie Debbie’ and said he was ‘broken to pieces’ in a moving tribute.

Posting a collection of photos with his uncle, one snap saw Mark and his uncle playing golf together at his stag party in 2015. 

Other snaps also showed the pair taking part in The Marsden March with the Wright family in 2016, beaming with delight as they crossed the finish line. 

Mark wrote: ‘No where, never, ever will you find better. My uncle Eddie, you were 1 in a trillion. You taught me so much!! Nearly everything I know as a man. 

‘From how to love my family, to treat my woman with respect, to work hard, to smile, to be a gentleman and the one you enjoyed most.

‘You taught me Golf (which I promise to keep practising to be as good as you wanted me to be) most of all, you were one of the most integral parts of our incredible family. 

‘You were the glue, the one that MADE us meet up and make memories (which again we promise to continue. We will NOT let you down) ultimately…. I am soooooo PROUD to call you my uncle and I will until the end of day.

‘I/we are absolutely broken, but together because we are the family we are…. we will get through, somehow some day.

‘We will look after auntie Debbie, our cousins and your grandchildren forever and that is promise.

‘I have often thought over the last 24 hours that part of me wishes we wasn’t so close, so that we didn’t love as much as a family as maybe it wouldn’t hurt as much. 

‘I will no longer think this way and instead I be grateful for the memories we have and when the dust settles, look back and smile. 

‘Unc, rest in peace. I love you sooo much, more than I ever told you and that’s saying something. I will see you 1 day again and until then I will continue to make you proud.’ 

In a lengthy post, Elliott revealed his father passed away ‘peacefully’ on 2 March after battling Covid for two months, just a week after telling followers he’d woken from a seven-week coma.

Elliott wrote: ‘It is with heart wrenching regret, that I have to post this post, my father Edward George Wright passed away peacefully with his family by his side on the 02.03.2021 after bravely fighting Covid for 8 weeks.

‘For those who knew my father, you know what a great man he was, always smiling, always humble, always happy, despite the fact in his later years he bravely fought prostate cancer, he never moaned and done his best to put a brave smile on. 

‘His love for his family is what he will be remembered for to all of us, the ultimate family man, wanting to spend every woken minute with his 10 grandkids and children was his only daily thought pattern and request, was that to be with them, the ultimate family man. 

‘For those who don’t know me well, the impact this has had on me, what can I say, I’m simply devastated!

‘To Dad, what can I say that you don’t already know in heaven, you are and will always be my rock, my best friend, the man who taught me to always be a gentleman, to put family first! 

‘Everything I know and have whether it be in business or personal is down to you an your guidance, my whole life, from a young age, I watched in ore (sic) of you, a mountain amounts men… doing deals, the king negotiator, with you by my side I could take on the world and still will do, as I know your love, affection and soul will always be by my side.

‘The legacy and mark you leave is colossal, put simply if I could be half the man you were, when my time finally comes.

‘I would go a very happy soul. I love you dad, the hole you leave is monumental but the memories I will cherish for ever. 

‘I know you will be watching over me an the kids, I hope I continue to make you proud, Rest in peace dad. See you at the gates when the time comes. I Love you, with all my Heart.’

In January Mark revealed coronavirus had left his uncle in a ‘critical condition’ after detailing how his own father Mark Snr had been ‘mentally changed’ by his battle with Covid.

Ex-TOWIE star Mark, whose parents Mark. Snr, 64, and Carol, 60, announced on New Year’s Eve they had been struck down by the virus, said his father was ‘not the same as four weeks ago’ during an appearance on Good Morning Britain.

Mark said at the time: ‘My dad is out of hospital now. One of my dad’s brothers is in hospital on oxygen. 

‘His other brother, my uncle Eddie, Elliott’s dad, is in a critical condition, we’re praying each night that he gets better.

‘We are hearing from doctors that he’s not getting worse, but we’re still praying he gets through this.’

Mark emotionally spoke about the after-effects of the virus on his father, saying it had affected him mentally.

He said: ‘I mean, he’s out of hospital and I hope he doesn’t mind me saying this but, mentally something’s not right there at the moment. 

‘He’s okay but he’s not my dad that he was four weeks ago. He’s better and I’m hoping there’s improvement more to come, but it can leave long lasting problems.’

Mark then made an impassioned plea to people to listen to the government and follow the rules pertaining social distancing, mask wearing and household mixing.

He said: ‘The message is what it should have been and has been from the start, like Kate has tried to promote on Good Morning Britain until you see it first hand, that might be the day you realise I need to buck up my ideas, but then it might be too late.’

‘I have good friends who are conspiracy theorists and they think it’s all rubbish and you don’t need to be locking down the country.

‘My answer is, the Government, whether they are right or wrong, they know more than you, so, if they are telling you to do this, do it.

‘Because until you get to a point where I am now, and I’ve had the hardest few weeks of my life and looking at basically potentially losing family members who are close to you or them being very sick.

‘You will regret doing what you are doing. So listen to the rules, stay at home, there is a lockdown for a reason.

‘Please just obey by these rules, it’s so important. When you see it first hand, it’s the most scariest virus you will ever see, the things it does to the body, what it’s done to my dad.

Mark’s sister Jess also revealed at the time that some of her family has been hospitalised by coronavirus.

The former TOWIE star detailed how Covid had ripped through her family like ‘wildfire’, with some having to seek treatment in hospital.

Jess wrote: ‘Covid has ripped through my family in the past month and it has been absolutely horrendous. Please stay safe everyone, stay home, wear masks and also check on loved ones regularly.

‘The fight isn’t over for us yet, we are taking every day as it comes and praying a lot. This new strain seems to be spreading like wildfire.

‘Thank you the well wishes for those who have known, for my family members that have been hospitalised by this awful, awful virus.’