Ipswich family, friends pay tribute to beloved mother Rebecca Green

Three Ipswich boys are heartbroken after their healthy mum went to bed one night last week but never woke, leading them to the tragic discovery when she didn’t get up for work in the morning.

Rebecca Green with her sons Cody, Brayden and Jordan. Picture: Contributed

A healthy Ipswich mother who died suddenly in her sleep last week has left behind three sons who tragically found her when she did not get out of bed to go to work one morning last week.

Ipswich mum of three Rebecca Green went to bed seemingly well the night of January 23, but she did not wake up the following morning.

Instead, one of her three sons made the tragic discovery that his mother had died overnight when he went to wake her on January 24 because she did not get up for work.

The 39-year-old’s grieving sons Kodye, 16, Brayden, 15, and Jordan, 11, now face life without her.

Ms Green, who was to turn 40 in March, lived her whole life in Tivoli and hailed from a well known local family with close rugby league ties.

Godfather to Mr Green’s sons, Christopher Johnson said friends and family knew her as the life of the party.

“She had one of the loudest laughs you’ve ever heard,” Mr Johnson said.

“She was a fun person to be around.”

“Growing up she was known for her athleticism and skill as a softball pitcher but it was her three sons who were the loves of her life.

“We grew up went to school together, those three boys are my godsons.

“Unfortunately we never thought anything like this would happen.”

Rebecca Green with her sons Cody, Brayden and Jordan. Picture: Contributed

Ms Green was well-known across the rugby league community and volunteered her time with the Ipswich Jets Rugby League Club.

Her sons Brayden and Kodye also played for the North Ipswich Tigers and she had taken on a new job at Cool Drive Auto Parts, previously working for Burson’s in Ipswich’s west.

Rugby League Ipswich (Rugby League Ipswich) posted a tribute in the wake of her death.

“Becky worked at the gate during many of our RLI events and was well known by many in the rugby league community.

“She was a beautiful person inside and out, and a wonderful mum to her three gorgeous boys Kodye, Brayden and Jordan.”

Rebecca Green and her family and friends. Picture: Contributed

Mr Johnson said Ms Green’s greatest achievement was raising her sons.

“From adversity and strength she managed to do that, eventually securing the family home and recently managed to buy a new car.” Mr Johnson said.

“The guys were gutted there (at Cool Drive Auto Parts) she managed to make friends quickly, that’s the type of person she was.”

Mr Johnson said Ms Green’s heartbroken sons would be cared for by family, with her sister Belinda based locally.

Rebecca’s father Bob Green OAM. Photo: David Nielsen / The Queensland Times

“I told them sometimes you may want to cry and that’s fine,” Mr Johnson said.

Ms Green’s popularity in the community was much like that of her family members.

Her father Robin ‘Bob’ Green, OAM, was the man known across the city for dressing as Santa each December and going on a toy run — giving children gifts paid for out of his own pocket.

Rebecca Green with her mother Judy. Picture: Contributed

Mr Green was a Rotary member, vice-president of the Ipswich RSL Services Club and organised the annual Happy Wanderers Bus Tour and throughout the 16 years, he and his team raised more than $150,000 for the Ipswich Hospital Children’s Sunshine Ward.

Her brother Daniel was an accomplished rugby league player, winning premierships with the Redcliffe Dolphins in 2003 and 2006, later swapping his Dolphins jersey for a coach’s role which lead the side to the Brisbane Rugby League premiership in 2016.

Rebecca purchased the Green family home two years ago, so she could raise her sons there like she was. Picture: Contributed

Mr Johnson said locals were now rallying around Ms Green’s sons, with a GoFundMe campaign established to help support them in a life without their mother.

“We set $20,000 in the GoFundMe for the interim to pay for things until we finalise where the family is at financially.

“People donating, there’s been some ridiculous (generous) donations and it’s good to see the community come together.

“It’s the whole of Ipswich itself, she’s well known throughout Ipswich.”

Ms Green will be buried at Warrill View alongside her mother and father.