A woman “with a heart of gold” died after falling from a seventh-floor balcony on holiday. Jenna Smith, had been on holiday in Turkey for three weeks with friends and was excited about coming home next week.
Tragically, the 34-year-old’s family said they were informed by the Embassy of Turkey that she died after falling from a balcony on Sunday and are waiting on more information on the circumstances of her death. Her brothers have flown out today to speak to Turkish authorities to find out more information.
Paying tribute to Jenna, family friend Hayley Weston, who has known the 34-year-old since she was five described her as “bubbly” and “loving”.
Speaking to Liverpool Echo, the 28-year-old said: “Jenna was well loved, bubbly, a really happy girl. She was chatty and had lots of friends. Jenna was popular, she had different friends but always had new friends because she was that outgoing.
“She was dead loving, she had a heart of gold and would do anything for anyone. Jenna was brought up by her nan and grandad so she cared for them because her mum had passed at a young age.”
Hayley added: “Her main job was a carer and she worked in different care homes. That was just her, that was her loving nature.” Hayley said Jenna was brought up by her nan and grandad Beryl and Alex Smith and has two brothers and a sister, Joe, Tony and Danielle.
Next door neighbour Hayley said she grew up with Jenna in Bootle and her family and saw her as an “older sister”. She said: “I am 28 now and I have known them for most of my life and have grown up with them. Me and Danielle used to rob Jenna’s clothes without her knowing and try and put them back and when she’d realise and she would go mad.
“We would be following her round and when she was with her friends and have her friends round we would be running in and trying to be the little class clowns, that kind of thing and making a show of her.
“When we got older we went on nights out and stuff and things like that. We’ve literally grown up together. She was like the older sister I never had, it’s like that older role model. She loved socialising, going out with friends on nights out and was funny.”
Hayley added Jenna loved to be with her family, she said: “She loved spending time with her nieces and nephews and she babysat them. Jenna loved spending time with them and was very family-orientated. She drove everyone mad but everyone still loved her.”
The 28-year-old has now set up a GoFundMe page to help Jenna’s family with funeral costs and bringing the 34-year-old home from Turkey. Writing on the fundraising page, Hayley said: “As you can imagine, everyone is absolutely heartbroken and I wanted to take the pressure from them, not having to worry about cost.
“If anyone can spare any donations it will be greatly appreciated and I know they will be more than grateful. No family should have to go through this.” Jenna’s friends, Ste Pilson and Dean Ashton, are also running 20 miles in memory of Jenna and hope the money raised will also help with bringing her home and subsequent funeral arrangements.
Family and friends are also organising a balloon release in memory of Jenna which will take place on the fields of Waterside. This will be either be before or the day of the funeral.
To donate to Hayley’s GoFundMe page to help Jenna’s family, please click here. To donate to Ste Pilson and Dean Ashton’s GoFundMe page, please click here.
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