A MUM and great-grandmother who ran a family business which managed multiple care homes has died aged 79.

Cynthia Thomas, who was born in Greenfield Street, Rhyl, and lived all her life in the locality [Rhyl, Prestatyn, Tremeirchion and Trelawnyd], died on Sunday, May 9 from Esophageal cancer.

Cynthia was formerly part of family business Thomas Care Group which managed a number of care homes between Rhyl and Llanrwst from the late 1970s until the businesses were sold in 2008.

She had husband Eddie, children Mark, Louise and the late Craig and nine grandchildren: Emily. Olivia, Louis, Faye, Harri, Michael, Daniel, Claire and Joe and great granddaughter Isobel.

Cynthia and Eddie entered the care home sector, buying from their friends Arthur and Heulwen Evans, who were original owners of Cartrefle, Palace Avenue, Rhyl, in 1977.

In the years that followed the Thomas Family Partnership owned a total of 14 care homes across North Wales over the years, mainly around the Rhyl community.

Their late son Craig went on to head the company but Cynthia still held responsibility on a daily basis for more than 400 staff and 350 elderly residents until retirement in 2007.

Mark said: “My mother didn’t have any outside interests apart from enjoying her grandchildren. Her love of caring for the elderly is reflected in all the 300 plus cards sent to the family, describing her as a kind and caring lovely lady.

“My mother always said that having good staff around her was the key to the success of the Thomas Family Partnership.”

Cynthia grew up in Rhyl. She worked in Palmers Shoe Shop, High Street, Rhyl and had worked as a school dinner supervisor at Rhyl High School.

She married Eddie in 1962 at St Ann’s Church, Vale Road, Rhyl.

Mark said his mother was one of the first in the North Wales care sector to employ overseas staff from as far afield as South Africa, Philippines, Latvia, Slovakia, Poland and Spain.

"She was very proud that more than 250 Thomas Care Partnership staff have moved into the NHS over the years with over 100 becoming trained nurses," he added.

In 2019, the Journal reported that family friend Vikki Jackson had completed her first marathon on behalf of Cynthia and raised £2,700 which was presented to staff Glan Clwyd Hospital's Cancer Unit.

Daughter Louise said at the time: "Vikki is my friend and also lost her grandmother to cancer., so when she found out about my mum's diagnosis, she told us that she was going to run her first marathon.

"The staff at the hospital's cancer unit are so incredible."

Cynthia's funeral was held on May 28.