Family mourns Ile-a-la-Crosse woman who died after COVID-19 diagnosis

A northern Saskatchewan community is mourning the death of a woman whom family members say lost her battle with COVID-19.

Nelda Maurice, 64, was a resident of Ile-a-la-Crosse.

Lana Maurice told 650 CKOM that her mom was a very special person.

“Open, always happy, loving, kindhearted, and she always thought of other people before she thought of herself,” Lana said Tuesday.

She said it is a very difficult time right now, because the family can’t really grieve properly with the pandemic restrictions.

“The whole grieving process seems like it’s just set up,” she said. “We don’t really have the time to let go of our grief with our family members.”

Krystal Maurice took care of her mom when she got sick. Krystal said Nelda had been feverish, had chills, couldn’t eat and couldn’t keep anything down. They finally had to call 911, and her mom ended up in the hospital in Saskatoon.

“She was shaking, her temperature was over 40 (Celsius) — it was scary,” Krystal said. “I didn’t even know what to do.”

Krystal said the last time she spoke to her mom was May 7.

“They moved her upstairs and she was, ‘I like my room, there’s a big window, there’s a cross hanging in my room — I’m in ICU now,’ ” Krystal said. “Then, that’s the day, May 7th, that she went into a coma and that they put her on a ventilator.”

More than $11,000 has been raised to help the family with funeral expenses.

The death has not yet been confirmed by the Saskatchewan Health Authority, but 650 CKOM has been told officials are investigating the COVID-19-related death of a woman in Ile-a-la-Crosse.