Former town council chairman Ann Lye, a founder member of the town charity Action on Homelessness, died in Ystrad Mynach Hospital, in Wales, at 9am on Sunday.

She had her left eye removed around three years ago after contracting a tumour.

Born in Cardiff on March 7, 1940, she moved to Wiltshire in 1986 following the end of her first marriage to Dave Pettican.

The couple had three children, Lyndon, Angela and Tim, and she had given up up working for Cardiff City Council to take care of them.

When she moved to Bradford on Avon she joined the Bradfordians Dramatic Society, helping make costumes for their productions.

In 1987 she met her second husband Andrew Lye, from Devizes, through their membership of the Social Democratic Party. They were married at Trowbridge’s Holy Trinity Church in December of that year. The pair were both actively involved in local politics. Mrs Lye served as a town councillor, was a West Wiltshire district councillor and a Wiltshire councillor.

Mr Lye said: “In the ’90s she was one of three people who set up Action on Homelessness in the town. She enjoyed helping others and was so proud of Action on Homelessness’ work.”

In 2001, the Lyes moved to Pembrokeshire and split up around five years ago, after which Mrs Lye used her maiden name, Elliott.

After their divorce she spent time with her sister Jen in Cambridgeshire and moved back to Wales to be near her children when she was diagnosed with her illness, living in Caerphilly.

Mr Lye said: “We stayed friends after we split and I think she was absolutely amazing how she handled losing an eye.

“She didn’t let it phase her and she was so positive. I’m pleased she got her wish of being close to her children and loved ones.”

As well as her children she leaves grandchildren Lewis, Liam, Emily, Ben, Sophie, Celene, Elizabeth, Christina and Rhys and great-grandchildren Jamie and Layla.

The funeral service for her is at Thornhill Crematorium, Thornhill Road, Cardiff, on Friday, December 7, at 3.45pm. Donations to Guide Dogs for the Blind can be made through Co-op Funeral Care, 85 Pontygwindy Road, Caerphilly, Mid-Glamorgan CF83 3HH, or to Action on Homelessness.