EX-FASHION SHOP OWNER FOUND DEAD AT HOME
Mum ‘died minutes before son returned home’
THE owner of a wellknown former fashion shop in Swansea, known for her style and “thoughtful, kind and considerate” nature towards others, has died suddenly.
Tributes have been paid to Julie Bodimeade who ran Molly’s Ladies Fashion in Carmarthen Road.
THE owner of a wellknown former fashion store in Swansea, known for her style and “thoughtful, kind and considerate” nature towards others, has died suddenly.
Tributes have been paid to Julie Bodimeade, née Thomas, who passed away aged 61 at her home in Fforestfach on Friday, March 12, with her death attributed to a heart condition.
She was discovered by her son, Peter, who had just returned home from London to spend Mother’s Day weekend with her.
A former Manselton Junior School pupil and Llwyn y Bryn student, Julie was well known to many in the city through her time running Molly’s Ladies Fashion store on Carmarthen Road, Fforestfach.
She had taken over from her mum, the late Molly Thomas, after she passed away in 2013, and continued to run the store until 2019.
As well as being a ladies’ fashion store, it was very much a community hub where people would visit and be given lifestyle advice, as well as fashion advice. She would also help organise fashion shows through the years.
Paying tribute to his sister, Dean Thomas said: “Julie was a very stylish, attractive woman who loved fashion and cared for everyone. It is tough for everyone in the family at the moment. I will go to call her and suddenly realise I can’t. That’s painful.
“She had complained in the week about a tightness in her chest. Her son was coming home that day to see her for Mother’s Day, and she had been shopping in Lidl before he arrived. She got back to her house and felt unwell. She passed away 10 minutes before her son, Peter, arrived.
“He found her and phoned 999 and stayed on the phone whilst trying to resuscitate her. Peter was waiting to enter the Metropolitan Police and bought an apartment in London with his partner. Julie was really proud of him for doing so well.
“Everyone is so devastated by the news. People can’t believe she is not here. Devastation is the word.”
Mr Thomas described his sister as an incredibly hard worker throughout her life and career, explaining how she performed roles as a shipping agent, as a BT employee, at Molly’s and more recently at Cheriton Medical Centre in Portmead where she worked every day though the pandemic.
He described her as very sporty growing up, with a love of playing squash, and she always kept herself fit and healthy, as a member of a gym, and loved to take her beloved spaniel dog Holly out for walks regularly.
As well as Mr Thomas, Julie leaves another brother, Mark, and sistersin-law Kay and Lisa. She was an aunt to Ainsley, Daniel, Michael, Christopher and Emily, and greataunt to Henri and Sebastian.
Mr Thomas added: “Julie and my mother were thick as thieves. They were like best friends and they were seeing each other multiple times a day and would go away on buying trips for fashion, they would have a lovely time together. When my mother passed away Julie carried on with the shop. It was like a social event for friends and customers there. They would all pop in and Julie would give fashion advice and lifestyle advice. She cared about everyone and touched everyone’s hearts. It was a real community hub and everyone who met her loved her.”
Julie was a very stylish, attractive woman who loved fashion and cared for everyone
- Brother Dean Thomas