A funeral service is to be held tomorrow for Andrea Burgess, a mother of three who had found a new life abroad after years of tragedy.

Ms Burgess, who died suddenly from a brain haemorrhage on January 4 at the age of 55, had been visiting Bermuda from the small Costa Rican town of Cahuita.

“She wanted to create some new memories,” her daughter, Ebonie, told The Royal Gazette at Ms Burgess’s former home off Frog Lane. “My grandmother lived in this house and my two brothers. There were a lot of good memories but a lot else that came with it.”

Ms Burgess lost her mother, Alfreda Samuels, her twin sons Stefan and Ryan, and her partner, Damon Allen.

Ryan Burgess was killed at the age of 18 in 2006 after a crash on Parsons Road, while Stefan Burgess, 24, was shot dead in 2012 after a gunman opened fire on a house party on The Glebe Road, Pembroke. Mr Allen died in 2014 at the age of 40.

Ms Burgess chose to leave the Island, first for Britain and then Costa Rica.

“She went to Costa Rica last April,” her daughter said. “She was living in a small town. Her life was simple, very natural, just like here. It was the first time, to me, that it seemed like she was living for Andrea.

“I was down there in December with my fiancé — she came back with us for Christmas. She was living in a little town down on the Caribbean coast and, just like here, everybody knew her.

“She spoke to everybody. It’s like she had a whole other family down there. Even with the language barrier and everything else, she was still just her bubbly, happy-go-lucky self.”

Ms Burgess persevered through bereavement with a poise that inspired many across the community, she said.

“It was a lot for one person. But you hardly ever saw her without a smile. You never heard her complain. Her faith definitely pulled her through,” she added. “My niece Ryann being born did a lot for her. She’ll be 9 next month. She could never tell her ‘no’; she never wanted to leave her. My niece told me last week, ‘That was my best friend’.”

Describing her mother as a person of humility who was caring and loving, her daughter added: “I can’t tell you how many adopted children she had, how many adopted brothers, sisters, friends. You can see it just from the number of Facebook posts about her, from all the messages I have received. There was nothing but love and gratitude for her.

“She was not one to preach to people. It was all in the way that she lived and carried herself. It was a testimony to many that no matter what happens to you, you can withstand and go through almost anything.”

Condolences were given in a joint statement by Walter Roban and Michael Weeks of the Progressive Labour Party, describing her as “a stalwart in the community and one who garnered the respect of all those with whom she came in contact”.

“As a mother, she was an inspiration to all,” they added. “Ms Burgess will be remembered fondly and our heartfelt thoughts are with her daughter Ebonie and the extended family at this time. May she rest in peace.”

Her funeral will begin at 2pm tomorrow at the Hamilton Seventh-day Adventist Church.