A POPULAR spiritual healer from Wickford has been killed in a car crash.

Vera Charlick, 68, was a passenger in a car when it collided with another vehicle in Rainham.

The mother-of-two, of Ethelred Gardens, was a back-seat passenger in a blue Ford Fiesta travelling westbound along New Road. The car collided with a white Fiat van.

Mrs Charlick, who was married to her husband Tom and has two children, Margaret and Paul, was a well-known spiritual healer in the south Essex area.

Friends, who have set up a memorial website in her honour, described Mrs Charlick as someone who touched others with the “grace and divinity of 100,000 angels”.

They are also encouraging those attending her funeral, set to take place on Tuesday at St Mary’s Church, in Runwell, to wear something bright, to reflect Mrs Charlick’s warm personality.

A statement on the tribute website reads: “Vera did not approve of wearing black on a regular basis, and would often advise others to wear brighter colours instead.”

The family are asking for donations in Mrs Charlick’s name to be made to the British Heart Foundation, a cause she supported.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the crash, which also left a 20-year-old woman seriously injured, to come forward.

The incident occurred at the New Road junction with Sandy Lane, at 6.30pm on Monday, October 25.

Another female rear seat passenger, who is in her early twenties, remains in a serious but stable condition.

The remaining occupants of both vehicles were uninjured.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the road death investigation unit based at Chadwell Heath traffic garage on 020 8597 4874.

An inquest into Mrs Charlick’s death is due to be opened and adjourned shortly.