The family of a woman killed earlier this week on a northern Alberta worksite released a statement Friday, shedding more light on the life that ended in tragedy.

Lorna Weafer’s family released a statement Friday afternoon – saying they wanted to share insight into the woman’s life.

The statement says Weafer, 36, was born in Ireland, and immigrated to Canada with her family as a child, before moving to Fort McMurray in 1981:

“Lorna’s warmth and compassion knew no bounds,” the statement reads. “She had a busy full life, loved her family and her dog.”

The statement reads Weafer had been working as an instrumentation tech with Suncor since October, and said she was well-liked, and had made many friends.

The family said Weafer had been considering going back to school, and studying to become a psychologist “because she loved helping people – she’d have helped anyone. And she often did.”

Finally, the statement ends with a message for her co-workers, who reportedly tried to intervene.

“On behalf of our family we’d like to recognize the co-workers who tried to help Lorna. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We understand you are grieving as well and we are sending you our best regards.”

Weafer died Wednesday afternoon, after a mature black bear attacked at the Suncor Oil Sands base plant located 25 kilometres north of Fort McMurray.

She was pronounced dead a short time later, at the scene.

Officials said the incident unfolded at about 3:30 p.m., and the woman’s co-workers attempted to stop the attack, but she was dragged away by the animal.

Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development, RCMP and Occupational Health and Safety officials responded to the scene, and a bear was euthanized – officials were conducting DNA tests to confirm the destroyed bear was the one involved in the attack.
Occupational Health and Safety is investigating.

Read the full statement below:

We know the manner in which she died has led to a focus on her death, but we would like to share some insight into Lorna's life and her spirit.

Lorna Weafer was born in Ireland thirty-six years ago, immigrated to Canada with her family as a child and moved to Fort McMurray in 1981.

Lorna's warmth and compassion knew no bounds. She had a busy full life, loved her family and her dog.

She absolutely adored children and had volunteered as a Big Sister.

Lorna was a warm, conscientious person and she made fast friends.

Although Lorna had only been working with Suncor as an instrumentation tech since October, she was extremely well-liked and had many friends at the company.

Two weeks ago Lorna lost her beloved dog Abby. Abby had been her pal for 15 years.

Lorna was incredibly organized. She was an avid photographer, and was very artistic.

She had been talking about going back to study and become a psychologist because she loved helping people - she'd have helped anyone. And she often did.

She will be greatly missed by her immediate and extended family, and her many, many friends.

On behalf of our family we'd like to recognize the co-workers who tried to help Lorna. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We understand you are grieving as well and we are sending you our best regards.

Due to the sudden and tragic circumstances of Lorna's death, we are asking for privacy while we grieve.

Thank you