'LOSING OUR MUMS BONDED US FOREVER'

THESE TWO STRANGERS BECAME EACH OTHER'S ROCK

- Sarah Marinos

This Mother's Day, Danielle Snelling and Eloise Baker, like thousands of others across Australia, will celebrate the treasured matriarchs in their lives. However, theirs will look a little different than most, as Danielle and Eloise's mothers both passed away when they were younger. "When I think of Mum, I remember how selfless she was - and the beautiful food she cooked!" Danielle, 36, tells New Idea. "She was born in Italy and she loved sharing food. She was a very warm person and even though I knew she was sick, losing her was a huge shock."

Her mother, Rosa, spent the last two years of her life fighting a rare and aggressive cancer. She died on January 4, 2012, after developing sepsis while having treatment.

"None of my friends could relate to what I was experiencing - I felt so isolated,” says Danielle, who was 23 at the time.