Tragic fall victim ‘was the life and soul of the party’

Switzerland: Friends and family of former Dunfermline woman plan online floral tribute

Friends of a former Dunfermline woman who died in an accident in Switzerland will honour her by wearing her trademark red flowers.

Stella McLoughlin, 46, was fatally injured when she fell as she walked her dog in mountains near where she lived on March 11.

The mother-of-three was known for always wearing a scarlet rose in her hair.

Friends from around the world, including many from Fife, will post pictures online of red flowers or themselves wearing flowers at 11am today, as a service is held by Stella’s family in Switzerland.

Her sister, Claire Key, who lives in Dunfermline, said: “She will be over the moon with this. She loved being the centre of attention.

“My sister was famous for wearing her red rose in her hair, you could always spot her because of it.

“It’s the way her friends and family remember her.”

Stella lived in the Swiss village of Baretswil with husband Craig and sons Patrick, 23, James, 22, and Ewan, 19, but was raised in Dunfermline, where she went to St Margaret’s Primary School and St Columba’s High School.

Claire and her mother, Rosaleen Blaikie, travelled from Dunfermline to Switzerland for Stella’s funeral last Friday. She said: “We are all shocked and numb, her death was so unexpected.

“Her boys and her husband are devastated. Craig was with her when it happened and he tried to revive her but it wasn’t to be.”

Before moving to Switzerland 15 years ago, Stella went to live in Australia with Craig, whom she met when he visited Rosyth with the Australian Navy.

However, she kept in touch with her many friends in Fife through social media and by blogging.

Claire said: “Even though she moved to Australia 27 years ago, she kept in contact with her old friends here.

“She was a really strong-willed woman with a big heart and if she was your friend, she was your friend for life.”

Friends have travelled from across the world to remember her and those who could not will take part in today’s online tribute, ahead of a service in Fife next week.

Claire added: “She will love the thought of everyone getting together. She was the life and soul of the party, always laughing.

“There was never a sad moment when Stella was around – she wouldn’t allow it.”

“Always laughing”: Friends and family will hold an online tribute to Stella McLoughlin today, as a service in her memory takes place in Switzerland.