A memorial for a homeless woman who lived in an underpass near Forest Hill station will be held later this month after hundreds of people raised more than £6,000 in just a few days after her untimely death.
The service, for Stefania – an Italian woman struggling with drug addiction who died two weeks ago after complications following surgery – will be held on Saturday, July 20, at Syndenham School.
The memorial will be led by Reverend Edd Stock from Holy Trinity Church, and be held for people of ‘all faiths and none’, says Clare Phipps, who set up a GoFundMe page to cover the costs of a cremation and service.
She, and other volunteers, are hoping residents will be able to help out on and in the run up to the day – especially with providing music and refreshments, and printing the order of service.
In an update on the page, Ms Phipps said any leftover funds would be used to help other homeless people.
Tributes poured in for the much-loved woman, who regularly sat in the underpass near Forest Hill overground.
Despite struggling with addiction and homelessness, Stefania was a well-known, friendly face and often helped older people and parents with buggies up the stairs.
For more information visit gofundme.com/stefanias-memorial-fund
The memorial will be held on Saturday, July 20, at 10am at Sydenham School, Dartmouth Road, SE26 4RD.
