WHITE roses will be placed on the coffin of Cwmbran blaze victim Samantha Thomas next week as her family give her the send off she deserves.
On Monday, June 29, a service will be held at the Gwent Crematorium in memory of 29-year-old Miss Thomas who tragically died during a fire at the first-floor flat in Shakespeare Road, Cwmbran, on Tuesday, May 19.
Her sister Rachael Jenkins said the family were holding the ‘traditional service’ at 10.30am where they will listen to ‘every breath you take’ by The Police and sing ‘Amazing Grace.’
They will then return to Pontnewynydd for the Wake.
“We will be holding family prayers at mums first, then going on to the Gwent Crematorium,” Miss Jenkins said.
“It will be a nice traditional service and all of the immediate family are putting white roses on the coffin before it goes through the curtains.”
Known to family and friends as being a ‘bubbly’ person who loved animals, donations made at the end of the service will go to the emergency services and All Creatures Great and Small.
Miss Thomas volunteered to work with animals at vets and charities, something which she continued to do throughout her life
Speaking to the Argus last month her sister said: “She was well known in the community and well liked.
“She was bubbly and up for a laugh and had a good sense of humour.”
As a tribute to her sister Miss Jenkins has had a tattoo on her left wrist with the word ‘sister’ surrounded by a heart and butterfly.
She also took part in a sponsored walk in Pontypool in Miss Thomas’ memory to raise £120 going towards funeral costs.
Asda in Cwmbran also raised £1,400; while a Just Giving page set up by Kelly Webster raised £424 after rugby player Sam Warburton backed the appeal by retweeting the page.
On the page Ms Webster said Sam's partner Paul passed away last week so a share of the funds will be given to his family to help with his funeral costs.
“We are slowly getting there,” Miss Jenkins said.
“We are just obviously now waiting for the funeral and then hopefully it will get easier.”
To donate visit: http://www.gofundme.com/Samanthathomas
https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/kelly-webster-2
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