Tributes have been paid after the sudden death of an “amazing” funeral director who always offered a shoulder to cry on.

Lee Maskell died in the afternoon of December 15 at the age of 43 from sepsis as a complication of influenza A.

He passed away in Barnet General Hospital following the “very short” illness surrounded by family, including his wife, two children and two stepchildren, who he adored.

Watford Observer: Lee MaskellLee Maskell (Image: Kelly Maskell)

Paying tribute, his wife Kelly told the Watford Observer: “Lee was a kind-hearted man who was not just my husband but my best friend, my soul mate, an amazing father and stepfather to our children. 

"The one who I could always depend on and rely on, and who always endeavoured to be the best husband and father he could be.”

His children, Logan, eight, and Eve, seven, said: “Our daddy was the best daddy ever and he loved us all so much and he loved animals. Daddy had lovely twinkling eyes and we hope he is happy in heaven.”

A fundraiser has been set up for the family, which has already raised £5,399.

GoFundMe for the family: https://bit.ly/3CgH892

A man who was “always there for not only his family, but anyone who needed him”, Lee was also labelled “the best uncle ever” by niece and nephew Thomas and Jasmyn, and “the most caring, kind big brother, who had a heart of gold” by his sister Jemma Carpenter.

“He had so much to live for and losing him has left a hole in our hearts that will never be filled,” she added.

Sister-in-law and midwife Tamsyn Noble-Brown described seeing the “instant look of unconditional love in his eyes" on the day he became a dad as “the best day of my job”.

Born in Edgware, Lee worked at M. K. Ginder and Sons Funeral Directors in Watford for 10 years and looked after many local families in that time.

Colleagues Katy Fuentes, Daniel Ginder, and Emma Dowds described him as “the loveliest person you would ever have the pleasure of meeting”, “a shoulder to cry on”, and “a proper geezer”.

Watford Observer: Lee MaskellLee Maskell (Image: Kelly Maskell)

Friends including Amiee and Paul Burke, Dean and Claire Townsend, Sadie Robinson, and Samantha Swaryczewski described a man with "the biggest heart and friendliest face" who brought his amazing attention to detail to everything he did, including throwing amazing parties.