A fundraiser set up to help the family of a Burnaby woman who died in a head-on crash in North Vancouver earlier this week has almost doubled its goal of $10,000 in one day.
The GoFundMe, which has raised over $21,000 so far, was set up by close family members of Marcelina (Lina) Perdido Agulay, who is being remembered as a devoted community member, loving grandmother, and fearless advocate for the marginalized working class.
“It’s with a broken heart that we have to announce the sudden passing of our Marcelina (Lina) Perdido Agulay,” her nieces, Karissa Abad and Pauline Bukovsky, wrote on the GoFundMe page.
“Our beloved Auntie Lina was taken too early from us. We are all in shock and in utter disbelief.”
The nieces described Marcelina as a wife, mother, grandmother, teacher, and devoted community member, who “will be missed so dearly.”
“Lina leaves behind a family who will miss her so dearly including a son and two grandchildren,” Abad and Bukovsky wrote.
Burnaby-Lougheed MLA Katrina Chen tweeted out condolences.
"Very sad to learn the passing of Marcelina," Chen wrote. "She was an ECE, an organizer and a dedicated volunteer. We will miss your smile so much. Please pray for Leon’s recovery and consider making a donation to support Marcelina's family."
Burnaby resident and former local school trustee Balrinder Narang also tweeted out her shock.
"Heartbreaking news - Marcelina was a gem of a lady caring for her family, friends and community - she will be greatly missed," tweeted Narang. "Praying for Leon's recovery. Please consider supporting the family with a donation."
Marcelina had just picked up her husband, Leonilo, from work and was driving along Low Level Road, west of the Neptune Cargill Overpass, shortly after 11 p.m. Tuesday (March 2) when they were involved in a head-on collision with another vehicle, with a suspected impaired driver behind the wheel.
Marcelina and Leonilo were heading eastbound when the westbound male driver of an Audi appears to have crossed the centre line, according to Sgt. Peter DeVries, spokesman for North Vancouver RCMP.
DeVries said the driver of the Audi is now being investigated for dangerous driving and refusal to provide a breath sample.
Bowinn Ma, MLA for North Vancouver-Lonsdale, took to Twitter to pay her respects.
“Marcelina Perdido Agulay was a kind, principled, fearless organizer for the marginalized working class,” she wrote.
“I'm personally devastated and there are no words to express the depth of this loss to our movement.”
B.C. Premier John Horgan also tweeted he was very sad to hear the news of Marcelina's death.
“Marcelina was a tireless advocate for working people and making life better for everyone in our province. She will be missed by our whole family," he wrote.
To donate, go to the GoFundMe page: Support the family of Marcelina Perdido Agulay.
- With additional reporting by Elisia Seeber, North Shore News
