WARM tributes have been paid to a “strong, independent” woman who ran her own wedding shop in Rhyl and who fought cancer with “positivity and grace” prior to her death earlier this month.

Geraldine Green died peacefully at her Rhyl home on Monday, April 3 aged 58 after a long battle with the illness.

She is survived by her husband, Mark; her brother and sister; her son and two daughters; and her grandchildren.

Known as “Ged”, Geraldine was diagnosed with cancer in 2017, having owned “GMG’s Bridal Shop” on Bedford Street for about four years previously.

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Born in Crumpsall, Manchester, she spent much of her life in Telford, and married three times.

Her third husband, Mark, who she met when they were both working at the Pontins holiday site in Prestatyn, celebrated the life of a “bubbly” woman who “put you at ease”.

He said: “When we first met, it was one of her dreams to have her own business, and ideally, her own bridal shop. Weddings had always been a passion of hers; she loved anything to do with them.

“When a shop became available on Bedford Street, she just took the plunge, but she gave up the shop due to ill health.

“We had a mutual friend, called Eileen, who got us together. It was a busy day, and Ged was working in one apartment (at Pontins) and I was in another.

“I needed a mop to clean the floor, so Eileen went to Ged and told her: ‘That lad you’ve got your eye on needs a mop’, so Eileen gave Ged a mop to bring over to me.

“We started chatting in the apartment, and arranged to meet a couple of days later, and we hit it off straight away.”

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Geraldine and Mark married in 2006, only nine months after first meeting each other, at Rhyl Registry Office.

Next month would have marked their 17th wedding anniversary.

Mark also recalled happy times spent with Geraldine, including long walks on the beach, the first meal she cooked him, and buying teddy bears during holidays to add to her ever-growing collection.

He said: “The first time I saw Ged, she had a fantastic, lovely smile. She was very easy to get on with.

“She put you at ease, and got on with everyone. Nobody had a bad word to say about her; she was always bubbly. We were together for nearly 17 years, and never really had one argument.

“We used to go for walks on the beach, and just walk and talk. Then, we’d suddenly look back and not believe how far we’d walked.

“The first thing she ever cooked for me was spaghetti Bolognese, and every time we had that, it was like going back in time.

“We had holidays to London, Scotland, Dublin, and everywhere we went, she’d pick up a teddy bear. She loved teddies. They’re all memories of our trips.”

Geraldine’s daughters, Sonia and Marie, also offered tributes to their late mother.

Between them, they described her as a “best friend” and an “inspiration”, with the “biggest of smiles and the most infectious laugh”.

Sonia said: “My mum was such an inspiration to me through the strength she had over the years, her beautiful smile, and her contagious laugh.

“She was an amazing, strong, independent woman; she was kind and caring, and would do anything to help anyone.

“One of my fondest memories with her was when I was younger, we both used to love listening to Celine Dion, and when my mum had a job painting porcelain teddy bears, we both used to sit at the table for hours painting them.

“My mum wasn't just my mum; she was my best friend.”

Geraldine’s funeral will be held at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, Rhyl on Friday, April 28 at 12pm, followed by interment at Rhuddlan Cemetery.

Donations in her memory would be gratefully received in lieu of flowers, and will be given to the charity Cancer Research UK.

Marie added: “My dearly-loved mum was a force to be reckoned with.

“She was her own unique person, with so much passion and determination in life. She had the biggest of smiles and the most infectious laugh; you could not help but laugh with her.

“She taught me how to be a strong, caring, independent woman, and to always to follow your dreams. She loved cats, the colour purple, weddings and butterflies.

“She did a lot for the community when she had a wedding shop; she let people have a payment plan for their wedding attire as she believed everyone should have the opportunity to be able to feel beautiful on their wedding day.

“Despite her challenges with her health, she fought with so much positivity and grace. She was and always will be remembered as my true warrior.”