Lee Edwards and Craig Forshaw focused the house above Cross Keys Chippy in Hindley on June 26, the day the household have been laying Brian Warburton to relaxation.
Brian, who ran the chippy together with his associate Denise, had died in late Could whereas ready for a lung transplant.
The burglars ransacked the house and stole £5,000, morphine and 10 previous cellphones containing treasured household images and movies.
Amongst them have been irreplaceable reminiscences of Denise’s solely son, a serving soldier who had been killed.
In a sufferer influence assertion, Denise described the house the place she had cared for Brian throughout his last days as their “sanctuary”.
She mentioned: “They selected the day of Brian’s funeral. They selected the at some point they knew we’d all be gone. They selected the at some point after we can be at our most susceptible.
“They walked via the rooms the place Brian had spent the ultimate days of his life. They went via his belongings. They ransacked the place the place I had cared for him.
“They invaded the house the place Brian had taken his last breaths.
“His funeral ought to have been one of the vital significant and sacred days of our lives. As an alternative, due to their actions, it turned one of the vital traumatic.”
Denise mentioned the stolen telephones contained images, movies and recordings of each Brian and her son.
She mentioned: “They weren’t merely telephones.
“They contained images, movies, recordings and reminiscences of my beloved son, who was tragically killed.
“My son was a serving soldier. He was additionally my solely youngster. These phrases are very tough for me to say. My solely youngster.
“They didn’t simply take issues. They took reminiscences. They took safety. They took peace.
“And, for me, they took items of the 2 individuals I cherished most. That’s one thing I’ll by no means be capable to substitute.”
Edwards, 52, of The Inexperienced, Norley Corridor, Wigan, and Forshaw, 51, of Breccia Gardens, St Helens, have been every sentenced to 18 months in jail at Liverpool Crown Court docket on Friday, September 25.
Constable Richard Kelsall, of Wigan’s Neighbourhood Crime Staff, described their actions as “despicable”.
He mentioned: “Edwards and Forshaw dedicated a despicable act at a time when a household was at their most susceptible.
“On a day which ought to have been centered on celebrating Brian’s life, their reminiscences are actually tarnished without end by this crime.
“Your own home needs to be your sanctuary. Your citadel. A spot the place you are feeling secure.
“To interrupt into that area leaves not solely a devastating bodily influence but additionally an emotional one realizing {that a} stranger has been in your house and tarnished the fond reminiscences you could have.”
Police mentioned CCTV and witness statements figuring out the 2 males fashioned a part of the proof towards them.
Constable Kelsall added: “I do know nothing I can say can take away from the ache of what the household skilled on that day – a day after they have been saying goodbye to a cherished man.
“I hope that this sentence will go a way to assist them rebuild and make new pleased reminiscences of their dwelling and their beloved enterprise.”