Funeral's are difficult days at the best of times but when it is your husbands and he is only 52, the shock of a sudden loss feels like a greater tragedy, especially when you have six children.

This is the scenario for Helen Patterson from Broadwater.

Helen's husband, Richard passed away from a heart attack four weeks ago. Two of his children along with two of his neighbours were present and provided immediate CPR unfortunately he did not make it.

Richard's funeral is today at St Francis Church in Ballina.

It is not just the huge emotional struggle of losing a husband and father for Helen, it is the short term financial struggle that adds a further layer to a tragic situation.

"We are struggling emotionally and financially," a teary Helen told the Lismore App, "He earned three quarters of our income and I have six kids and a mortgage."

The problem with accessing Richard's superannuation to ease that burden is tied to an unforgiving system.

Richard required an autopsy to be completed which meant his body had to travel to Newcastle, this took a week. Then there was the return journey and the funeral arrangments which leaves the Patterson's with a four week time frame.

To begin the process of accessing Richard's superannuation you need a death certificate. In NSW, the funeral director usually applies for the death certificate on behalf of the family about a week after the funeral.

Helen explained this was the same situation with their bank.

"We can't even have a conversation with the bank until we get the death certificate. They have said they could just charge us interest only for a while but I can't even have that conversation. We are in limbo waiting."

In the meantime, Helen has to pay the mortgage and other bills as well as look after and feed six children.

"The kids are helping and friends have given us gift cards to put towards groceries," Helen explained.

"Our friends have been amazing and people from the community have been helping with the yard, people you wouldn't expect. We have 2 acres and people have mowing the lawn doing the maintenance, it's just been fantastic."

A good friend of the Patterson's Erin Gollan has also set up a Go FundMe page to help the family through these very trying times.

So, far $28,000 has been raised which has helped, however, any further donations would be appreciated as there is no certainty when financial support in the shape of superannuation can be accessed.

"We are so very thankful to those that have generously donated," Helen said.

This is the link, if you feel you want to donate to the Patterson family https://gofund.me/f1580254.

Richard was described as an extraordinary family man and friend who never hesitated to lend a hand. It appears the Brodwater community and the broader Northern Rivers community is now doing the same for the Patterson family.