A woman was left staggered after she received thousands of pounds in a shock windfall after she was tracked down when a long-lost relative died without a will.

Angela Lewis, 82, tragically died alone of dementia in a Surrey nursing home with those around her knowing very little about her family.

Born in Hackney during the Second World War as an only child, she had no children of her own to inherit her £75,000 estate.

But when Finders International – professional probate genealogists and stars of BBC‘s Heir Hunters series – was instructed to search for relatives they found she had three cousins who had died before her.

And so when Conchita Boothman – one of the trio’s five remaining children – received a letter through her door informing her of the surprise sum she was left shocked.

Her parents divorced when she was young and the 53-year-old knew little about his family. She says that the new revelation allows her a new insight into his life.

Ms Boothman told MailOnline: ‘When I got the letter from Finders International I was totally surprised. I was a bit dubious at first but did my own research on Finders International and, while I had never heard of Angela Lewis, I decided I would call Finders.

‘I spoke with one of the researchers at Finders who explained that Angela was a first cousin of my late father. 

‘It was astounding to hear this as I didn’t know very much about my own father or my father’s family. My parents divorced when I was very young and both had illnesses that prevented me from really knowing my father at all.’  

Ms Boothman had never heard of her mystery benefactor when she received a letter saying she was one of the five people sharing her £75,000 estate.

Ms Lewis died more than 200 miles away from her Stockport home, and she says she wishes she could have helped her before he passed away.

She continued: ‘The whole process with Finders International was incredible, if somewhat bitter sweet. 

‘It is sad that Angela was alone, and sad that I never met her. I would have liked to get to know her and her life, and also to ask her about my father’s family.’ 

But while Ms Boothman may never have been able to speak to her cousin first-cousin-once-removed, she says that the new information has ‘completed a chapter of my family tree’.

Before Finders International got in touch she didn’t even know she had cousins on her father’s side.

She added: ‘I didn’t know that my grandmother had married twice and that my dad was from her second marriage, so I was completely unaware that my father had a half-brother and that I had ‘half cousins’ too. 

‘I probably would never have known this only for Finders International’s work on this case. Now, finally, I know some of my father’s and my own heritage and that means a lot to me. 

‘It completed a chapter of my family tree that I did not know even existed and for that I am very grateful. The inheritance, while totally unexpected, is just a bonus. I haven’t decided what to do with it – probably some home improvements.’ 

Simonne Llewellyn, CEO of Finders International, said: ‘This type of scenario is not unusual. 

‘Families are often dispersed, with extended families and relatives not known to each other. Emigration, divorce, remarriages and even illnesses often play a pivotal role in knowledge gaps within extended families.

‘We don’t know what Angela’s wishes would have been, however we are glad that Angela’s estate will go to the next generation of her only relatives, and that they can enjoy their inheritance. We are also delighted to have been able to fill in some of the gaps in the family tree for the beneficiaries.’