The life of Briannah Clowes, a mother of four killed in what police believe was a murder last week, was honored at a somber vigil where her family members demanded answers and justice in her death.

Dozens, including Clowes’ 11-year-old son, gathered outside in the 100 block of The Promenade for a candlelight vigil Tuesday night to mourn their loss.

The ceremony site, a thoroughfare north of Portage Place Mall, was where Winnipeg police said they found the 28-year-old woman unresponsive with life-threatening injuries on the afternoon of October 31.

Clowes was taken to hospital in critical condition and was pronounced dead a short time later.

“She was an honorable, beautiful person who had a good soul, she was a loving mother of four children who did not deserve what happened to her,” Shauna Clowes, Briannah’s sister, told CBC News.

Clowes became a young mother at age 16, her sister said, and graduated from high school and then enrolled at Red River College, where she became a nurse.

“She had goals and aspirations for the future, she wanted the best for herself and her children … and she was brutally stripped of that,” her sister said.

Shauna said she last spoke to her sister on the phone about a month ago, it was a short conversation, but she said now those “simple things are so important” to her.

“These little memories with her, even just walking down the street … they just come back to me.”

‘She changed everyone’s life’: Clowes’ ex-partner

Kasandra Flett, the paternal aunt of Clowes’ oldest child, said she faced a lot of challenges when she was little, but she “fought it and got better” by becoming part of the St. Boniface.

“We’re holding a vigil to remember her as a person … whatever path she took in life, we want to remember her life,” Flett said.

A group of women attended the vigil, some of whose mothers joined in a hug around Clowes’ 11-year-old son as he played drums and chanted prayers.

Red and pink roses, held by some of those attending the vigil, were placed on the ground in front of a board with pictures of Clowes and her family, lit by the flames of several white candles.

Daniel Flett, the Clowes’ former partner and father of their 11-year-old son, attended the vigil and said Briannah would be remembered as a wonderful and caring mother who “found the good in everything” and “always pushed for excellence.”

“It’s quite a traumatic loss … you think it could never happen to your loved ones,” he said.

“I’m going through a lot of pain, a lot of sadness, but I have to stay strong for my son and the rest of the family.”

Clowes’ ex-partner had known her for about 12 years and they last saw each other about a month ago.

“She changed everyone’s life,” he said. “If I had known how she would have gotten here, I probably would have done everything I could to try to get her out of this situation and make sure this never happened to her.”

The man changed to 2nd degree murder

Ryan John Kennedy, 32, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder in connection with Clowes’ death. Police said the two were known to each other, but did not say what kind of relationship they had.

Clowes’ family doesn’t even know how the two met or why she was at The Promenade on Halloween, but they’re looking for answers in her death.

“What is so important that you have to kill someone? Why was her life taken at the young age of 28? What made him think it was okay to kill her?” Clowes’ sister asked.

“People who were brutally and innocently killed … there should be justice.”

Kasandra Flett said the family is now demanding justice, especially for her children, the youngest of whom will grow up without the memory of their mother.

“No one should take someone’s life,” she said.

But her family said that as they seek justice in her death, they want people to remember Clowes for the person she was, not how her life ended.

“Her kindness, she was generous, she had so much love for her children, she cared so deeply … her cheeky smile that she always had and the sparkle in her eyes,” Kasandra Flett said. “We want her memory to be remembered this way.”