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Glenda Stone remembered as kind and gentle

A celebration of life will be held Friday, June 19 for the woman who died after having a heart attack at an Abbotsford homeless camp
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Glenda Stone

The woman who died after suffering a heart attack at the homeless camp on Gladys Avenue last week is being remembered as kind, gentle and "hilarious."

Glenda Stone, 45, went into medical distress while at the site last Wednesday, and died in hospital the following day after being taken off life support.

Sharon Forbes, co-executive director of Raven's Moon Resource Society, a non-profit organization that provides transitional housing for men and women, said Stone was not a resident of the camp.

Forbes said that although Stone had been homeless in the past, she had been living in a basement suite – which she kept in immaculate condition – for the last five years and still had friends at the camp.

She was visiting them when she went into medical distress. Forbes, who was among those at Stone's bedside when she passed away, said no drugs or alcohol were found in Stone's system.

Forbes said Stone, who had Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and other challenges, was loved and supported by many people in Abbotsford, particularly those involved with Raven's Moon.

Forbes said the organization helped Stone access income assistance,  permanent disability payments, and transitional housing before she moved into the basement suite.

She said Stone was much adored by those who knew her, many of whom referred to her as "little Glenda" because of her small 4' 11" stature.

She was known for her sharp wit and her gentle nature, which prompted many of her friends to be protective of her, Forbes said.

"She was lovely. She didn't cause any problems. She would never steal from anybody. She would never harm anybody."

Forbes said those who knew Stone are devastated by her death.

A celebration of life takes place this Friday, June 19 at Jubilee Park, starting at 1:30 p.m.



Vikki Hopes

About the Author: Vikki Hopes

I have been a journalist for almost 40 years, and have been at the Abbotsford News since 1991.
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