A bubbly and kind young woman has suddenly died exactly a year after her father lost his hard fought battle with cancer.
Stephanie McFarlane, 28, passed away on July 11 on the Gold Coast, with her shattered mother Sandra revealing the heartbreaking news on social media.
‘I lost my beautiful girl on Thursday. My heart is broken. Fly free with the angels till we meet again,’ Ms McFarlane wrote on Instagram two days later.
She described her daughter as a kind person and was someone, who always put others before herself.
‘She kept her heart true and that’s why people loved her,’ the shattered mum continued.
Steph, who loved music and played competitive sport, died on the first anniversary of her father’s death.
‘It was to the day (of her dad’s death) – that’s all I will say (about Steph’s death),’ her mum told the Gold Coast Bulletin.
Her daughter wrote at the time of her father’s death: ‘Glad you’re finally at peace now, you fought so hard, and have made me appreciate life so much more now. Never met someone so positive going through something so horrible.’
Stephanie McFarlane, 28, (pictured) passed away on July 11, with her mother Sandra revealing the heart breaking news on social media
Friends and loved ones expressed their sympathies online.
‘I am so sorry to hear this. Sending you my love,’ one person wrote.
Another added: ‘I’m so sorry to hear about this. That’s so sad and unbelievable.’
Ms McFarlane urged people not to speculate about how her daughter died.
‘Stop the gossip. She is gone and we can’t bring her back. We can’t blame ourselves,’ she told the newspaper.
Steph had called the Gold Coast home for the last decade and was working at the Chevron Island Tavern, a popular pub in Surfers Paradise.
She also worked at the Crowne Plaza Hotel and Skypoint in the Q1 Building.
Last week, the tavern held an event for staff and patrons to celebrate Steph life and share their fond memories.
Regular patron Elizabeth Kriesch remembered Steph as always being full of joy and welcoming.
A local convenience store worker added: ‘I will always remember her smiles and bubbliness when she would come into the store.’
A friend has painted a mural of Steph above Chevron Island’s Arlo’s Pizzeria in her honour.
Chevron Island Tavern regulars remembered Steph (pictured) fondly and said she was always welcoming
Ms McFarlane has been overwhelmed by the messages of love and support from Steph’s friends and locals on the Gold Coast.
She said her daughter moved away from home when she 19.
Originally from Victoria, Steph competed in several sports while growing up in Geelong, including cricket, rugby and AFL and even played cricket at interstate level.
She also earned a black belt in karate and was a talented musician.
‘She could listen to a song and pick it up straight away,’ Ms McFarlane said.
A celebration of Steph’s life will be held in Geelong on August 11.
For confidential 24-hour support call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.
Stephanie (pictured left) died on the one-year-anniversary of the death of her father (pictured right), who lost his battle to cancer
