‘It’s restored my faith in humanity’: Daughter crowdfunds £4,000 to help pay for her mother’s funeral

A daughter has launched a fundraiser to help pay for the funeral of her mother who died from bowel cancer.

Tresi Davies of Adpar, Castell Newydd Emlyn died last week and so far £4,000 has been raised towards her funeral and also the Cleddau Ward in Glangwili Hospital, Carmarthen where she was cared for.

Her daughter Cerys Defis said she had decided to raise the money for the funeral through a crowdfunder as she could not afford it.

“The support we’ve been given by people is something else,” she told Nation.Cymru. “It’s made me cry numerous times. And restored my faith in humanity.

“Things are really difficult right now. Having to figure out how to pay the mortgage and bills my parents shared is tricky to say the least, as well as coming to terms with grief and losing mam.

“My mum’s friends set up the page, but we all agreed that we needed to raise money for the funeral because having all this financial stress on us wasn’t healthy.

“But the absolute love and heart I’ve seen from people I haven’t seen in years, who just knew mam. From strangers… it’s astounding and absolutely made me realise that I’ll be okay.

“Even though mam’s not here, people, even strangers have your back.”

‘Heart’

Cerys Defis paid tribute to her mother who she described as “something else, always laughing and so caring”.

“Even when she was really ill, she was my mam,” she said. “I’d break down when she first came home because I couldn’t cope with having to care for her.

“But she’d tell me to cuddle in with her in the bed and ‘just bloody cry and let it out bach’. As she stroked my hair.

“And losing someone who understands your emotions, your personality everything that makes you tick…it’s hard.

“I came out to her as bisexual and she whispered, “I know, I’ve always known.” And she didn’t care, it didn’t make her love me less.

“Mam is the kindest and most giving person I’ve ever had the pleasure to have met. Even before she passed and the doctor explained to her what was coming, she cried ‘I can’t die yet, i still have so much left to give’.

“And that says more about her than i could ever say. When people say I’m like my mam, it’s such a pleasure and my heart beams. I am nowhere near my mam’s level. But good God do I aspire to be.”

‘Missed’

The crowdfunder was set up by Tresi Davies’ friend Rhian Evans and says she was thankful for all the love and care shown towards the family.

“We know how much Tresi was loved by everyone, and as her closest friends, we have decided to make a donation towards the funeral costs rather than give funeral flowers,” the page says.

“These funds will assist the family with some of the expenses, at this very distressing and emotional time, and hopefully give the family a little bit of comfort , in knowing just how much Tres meant to so many people.

“Tres was a bright shinning light of love, laughter and mischief all around us all, and will be missed by so many people. A truly one off person, that we will remember and talk about forever.

“We will also be making a contribution from this fund to Cleddau Ward in Glangwili Hospital where Tresi spent a lot of her time and had amazing care by all the staff.”

Anyone who wants to contribute towards the fundraiser can do so here.