'She was a beautiful person': Pedestrian killed by bus remembered

The family of an Edmonton woman struck and killed by an Edmonton Transit bus doesn't want her memory to be defined by the tragedy.

Mary Lynch, 83, was killed when she was walking across the street at a marked crossing and washit by a left-turning bus.

She's being remembered as a lively, generous woman.

"She was just a beautiful person," said her son-in-law Bruce Clarke.

"She loved her family endlessly... she was a wonderful woman. Very kind, very loving,she would do anything for her family."

Clarke said she was a volunteer at both the Edmonton Food Bank and the Providence Renewal Centre.She alsofaithfully attended church every Sunday.

"There's a lot of great memories that we have of her, for sure," said Clarke."She was a very vibrant lady. She loved to read. She loved to play card games, spending time with her grandsons and family."

Always keen to learn something new, Lynch had recently signed up for acousticguitar lessonsand was a keen student.

"She had done it when she was younger, and she just hadn't done it for a long time, so she felt like it was a good time," Clarke said.

"Winter was coming and she wanted to get into another hobby."

Born in Toronto, Lynch moved to Edmonton decades ago, with her husband John. They were married for 50 years before he died in February, after abattle with Alzheimer's.

Lynch was killed Tuesday when a busmade a left turn at a marked crosswalk on 87th Avenue and 169th Street. She was transported to hospital, but later succumbed to her injuries.

Lynch is survived by her two daughters,Kathy Ferguson, and Sarah Clarke,her two grandsons Evan and Michael, and herdaughters' husbands Bruce Clarke andBrad Ferguson.

The Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 569, which represents ETS drivers in Edmonton has since said that blind spots on city buses were likely a contributing factor in the crash.

But thefamily is trying not to focus on the dark circumstances of Lynch's death, but the brightest moments of her life.

"It's a tragic event for everyone that's involved," said Clarke."Our thoughts and hearts certainly go out to the driver of the bus or anyone who may have witnessed the event.

"Our focus right now is on Mary and remembering her."