Heartbreaking images show coffins of mother and her two sons who died of coronavirus within DAYS of each other being laid to rest as masked mourners line the street

Heartbreaking images taken today show the coffins of a mother and her two sons who died of oronavirus within days of one another as they are laid to rest.

Masked mourners lined the streets of Pentre, South Wales, to pay their respects to Gladys Lewis, 74, and her sons Dean, 44, and Darren, 42.

Gladys, who had 13 grandchildren, died at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital on October 29. Dean was found unresponsive at his home in nearby Treorchy the following day and pronounced dead shortly after.

His younger brother Darren died at the same hospital as his mother, on November 2, following treatment in intensive care.

All three had tested positive for coronavirus before they died, and their death certificates state Covid-19 as the cause.

Their family arranged for all three funerals to take place at the same time so they could be together. 

While the Lewis' family sat inside St Peter's Church for the service, mourners socially distanced outside as they listened to the funeral through loudspeakers. 

Gladys Lewis, 74, and her sons Dean, 44, and Darren, 42, were all laid to rest following a service in Pentre, South Wales, today. The mother and her two sons died just days apart after contracting Covid-19

The Lewis family, pictured leaving today's funeral service, were told 'no-one should ever go through what you have been going through,' after losing Gladys, Dean and Darren in the space of five days 

After the service, the hearses carrying the three coffins drove through Pentre and were applauded by dozens of mourners outside the church. 

Father Haydn England-Simon, who led the service, told the family: 'You are right when you say that no-one should ever go through what you have been going through.'

The family called on people to 'play their part' to fight coronavirus and follow the rules to limit its spread.

Father Haydn read eulogies to Mrs Lewis and her two sons, describing them as much-loved members of the family as well as the local community.

Today's service heard Gladys Lewis, 74, 'idolised her children, she protected Darren his entire life and loved Dean and Debbie no end'

Father Haydn England-Simon praised Darren Lewis' 'fighting spirit,' and his brother Dean's 'heart of gold'

All three were laid to rest following a joint funeral service at St Peter's Church in South Wales. It is not known how they caught Covid-19, along with 10 other members of the family, but it is believed to be through community transmission 

Mrs Lewis had been married to husband David, 81, for 44 years after meeting him in Blackpool.

They 'absolutely adored' each other and were keen dancers, the family said in the eulogy.

The grandmother-of-13 and great-grandmother-of-four would 'fight the world and win to make sure her children and grandchildren had what they needed and deserved'.

Father Haydn read: 'Gladys absolutely idolised her children, she protected Darren his entire life and loved Dean and Debbie no end.'

Mrs Lewis had been married to husband David (pictured front and centrce), 81, for 44 years after meeting him in Blackpool. Mourners heard the couple 'absolutely adored,' one another 

Mrs Lewis was described as a proud grandmother great-grandmother, who kept her own copy of their birth certificates in her box of memories

Father-of-three Dean Lewis would 'do anything for anyone,' mourners heard, as he was laid to rest with his mother and brother in Pentre, Wales, earlier today

Mrs Lewis was described as a proud grandmother and great-grandmother, who knitted clothes for the 'little ones' and kept her own copy of their birth certificates in her memory box.

Father-of-three Dean Lewis met wife Claire, 44, at school and they began dating in 1991.

He had a close relationship with their sons Danny, Declan and Darian, sharing his love of Liverpool Football Club and gaming with them.

Father Haydn read: 'Dean had a heart of gold, very much like his mother, and would do anything for anyone.

'Dean will be missed by all who knew him.'

Darren Lewis, who had Down's Syndrome, was also a keen football fan and would watch Wales and Cardiff City play with his nephews.

He supported Arsenal Football Club and 'relished every match', his family said in his eulogy.

They said he loved being part of family occasions and enjoyed being the centre of attention.

'It was Darren's fighting spirit that drew people to him and made him who he was - the strong, determined character that was loved by so many,' Father Haydn read.

Mourners gathered outside the church were reminded of Covid-19 regulations as they paid their respects to Glady, Dean and Darren Lewis. Funeral directors carried out the coffin of Darren following today's service

Darren, who had Down's Syndrome, loved being part of family occasions and enjoyed being the centre of attention, his family said in a eulogy

Gladys Lewis and her two sons all died within the space of five days, between October 29 and November 2. Friends of the family set up a speaker service so mourners could listen to the funeral outside of St Peter's Church

During the funeral, the hymn All Things Bright And Beautiful was played, as well as Sir Cliff Richard's The Minute You're Gone.

Queen's Friends Will Be Friends was played as each coffin was brought out of the church and placed into a hearse.

The family of Mrs Lewis and her sons previously described how Darren and Mrs Lewis, who had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and emphysema, had been shielding.

Dean had only gone out once a week to shop for his parents.

It is not known how they caught Covid-19, along with 10 other members of the family, but it is believed to be through community transmission.

Mrs Lewis developed symptoms of the virus around a week before her death and was admitted to hospital on October 25.

Gladys, pictured on a family trip to the seaside with her husband David and children Dean, Darren and Debbie, would 'fight the world and win to make sure her children and grandchildren had what they needed and deserved,' the funeral service heard

Queen's Friends Will Be Friends was played as each coffin was brought out of the church and placed into a hearse.

Dean Lewis tested positive after his mother was admitted to hospital. He died on October 30.

Darren Lewis was admitted to the Royal Glamorgan Hospital and was later transferred to the intensive care unit, where he died on November 2.

The family were unable to be with Darren before his death, due to them testing positive for Covid-19 and having to self-isolate.

In the funeral, Father Haydn paid tribute to NHS staff who were working through the pandemic.

Writing in the order of service, the family said: 'As a family we cannot express how much your love, messages and support mean to us all.

'We would like to say thank-you to each and every one of you. Special thanks to Father Haydn and to everyone who has supported the family during this difficult time.'

The family also thanked Rob and Alex Thomas Brown, who supplied the sound system to allow for people to listen to the service outside the church.