A memorial service will be held Saturday at the Salvation Army Caring Place for Anita Hauck, an advocate for the homeless.
Hauck, 45, died Sept. 28, after getting stuck in a clothing donation bin at a shopping centre in Pitt Meadows.
She had been living at the homeless camp on Cliff Avenue and volunteered at the Salvation Army.
She was an advocate for the homeless and spoke out about housing at a municipal election forum last November. She recently spoke out in favour of the Salvation Army following a request by Maple Ridge council for B.C. Housing to cut funding for the emergency shelter there.
“That was my baby daughter,” said Loretta Sundstrom, who also lives in Maple Ridge.
Hauck was the youngest of five children and was born in Vancouver. She had never been back east, as was previously reported.
“She’s never been to eastern U.S. or Canada. She was born in St. Paul’s Hospital, raised in Vancouver.”
Sundstrom was close to her daughter and knew about her struggles.
“I’m the one who was closest to Anita.”
When her mom moved to Maple Ridge, Hauck followed.
“It was the Caring Place that helped her get on track,” said Sundstrom added.
The Caring Place will be the location of a funeral service for Hauck on this Saturday, at 2 p.m.
“We’re encouraging people to park across the street. We feel it’s going to be a full house,” said Darrell Pilgrim with the Salvation Army.
Kathie and Ed Chiu, former executive-director with the Caring Place in Maple Ridge, will be officiating. The couple worked with Anita during her 10 years or so volunteering at The Caring Place.
“We hope to celebrate the life of someone who affected a lot of people, and who showed care and compassion for many,” said Pilgrim.