The obituary notice of Dafydd IFANS

I've been thinking about what made Dei, Dei. I've come to think of it simply as The Dei Way.
Although we only had 14 years together as siblings, we packed so much into that time. We met later in life and quickly built a close relationship. Dei had an open heart, and we never hesitated to show our love for one another. He welcomed me into his wide and wonderful family, and what a family it is. In the days after his passing, everyone instinctively looked after one another. That was The Dei Way in action.
Family was at the centre of everything Dei did. He wanted everyone he loved to flourish, to follow their dreams and to know he would always be there when they needed him. Animals were family, too. Over the years, there were dogs, horses, ponies, goats and sheep, including a pet lamb who grew into a tame sheep and waited by the kitchen window each morning for a biscuit.
Dei devoted his life to public service, from the Army to the Probation Service, Social Services, and ultimately becoming Chief Executive of CAFCAS. A remarkable achievement for someone of dual heritage at a time when opportunities were far less equal. Early in his Army career, he was advised to lose his Welsh accent if he wanted to get on. He stayed Welsh and true to himself proudly.
He lived by strong principles, never seeking honours or special treatment, and quietly gave generously to charity without ever mentioning it.
The Dei Way also included a good dose of mischief. Ric will never forget being woken by "Feet on the floor, walk out the door!", Jonquil being called "Captain Chaos", or my homemade fruit crumbles losing out to a £1 Tesco apple pie. Everyone had a nickname, too.
The Dei Way wasn't complicated. It was kindness, humility, generosity, loyalty to family and making people smile.
Love you, big bro.

Cyfraniad er cof am Dafydd, cyfaill yn ein dyddiau yn yr ysgol yn y Clwt, dyfodd yn wr bonheddig gyda chariad a gofal mawr o'i deulu ac hefyd ardal Tanyfron.
Gyda cydymdeimlad a Jonquil a'r teulu oll.

A fond and sad farewell to an unique. engaging and likeable man. I had the pleasure of being Dafydd's practice teacher many years ago, and we were colleagues in the early days of Conwy Council in the 1990s - our fun-filled conversations helped me cope with chaos of the time! I also bumped into him at Denbigh Morrison's regularly following my retirement from Local Government - it wa a great place for "serendipitous encounters" with friends old and new!

Cysga mewn hedd fy ffrind a chydymdeimlad dwys i'r teulu