The family of a north-east woman who died while on holiday in the Highlands will be laid to rest in her hometown following a massive appeal to bring her body home.
The family of June McKenzie thanked all those who had helped their desperate plight to raise enough money to take the 56-year-old back to Aberdeen after she died in Aviemore.
The mother-of-three had only just arrived at the tourist resort with her youngest daughter, Billie-Jean, 20, and six-year-old grandson, Owen, when she suffered a fatal asthma attack.
Her family had until today to raise the £2,800 needed to pay for an undertaker to take her home to the north-east and to pay for a funeral service.
But because her death had been so sudden, they realised they did not have a penny put aside to pay for it.
Mrs McKenzie would have been buried miles from home in a Highland Council-paid “pauper’s burial” because she died in the local authority area.
But thanks to family, friends and “complete strangers”, her children Billie-Jean, Julie and George, have now raised enough money through a ‘crowd-funding’ appeal to make sure they see her one last time.
Her body will be taken home today by Ellon-based Davidsons Funeral Directors – who significantly reduced their costs to help the family – and her funeral is expected to take place on Thursday.
Last night, her son George said he would forever be grateful to those who helped them so he can see his mother one last time before she is laid to rest.
“We could have never done this ourselves – I want to thank everyone so much for everything they have done for us,” he said.
Mrs McKenzie had been a carer for her 96-year-old mother at their home at Garthdee.
She had turned her life around after a spell in prison several years ago, and had been looking forward to spending more time with her family.
Earlier this year, Mrs McKenzie began saving up for a trip to Aviemore – her “favourite place” – as she was determined to take her grandson on his first holiday.
At the weekend, her family returned to the Highlands to pick her belongings up after police concluded their investigation into her sudden death.
Her daughter, Billie-Jean, had battled to save her mother’s life when she found her gasping for breath.
“I knew she had gone but I didn’t want to believe it. She died in my arms,” she said.