28-year-old woman killed near Portage Place was loving mother of 4, says relative

Awoman who was killed near Portage Place last week was aloving mother to her four children and a hard-working person, the paternal aunt of her oldest child says.

Briannah Clowes, 28, was pronounced dead in hospital after being found with life-threatening injuries in the 100 block of The Promenade the thoroughfare just north of Portage Place mall shortly after 3 p.m. on Oct. 31, police said in a news release over the weekend.

Ryan John Kennedy, 32, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder in connection with her death, police said in a news release Sunday.Police also said in the release the two were known to each other, but didn't specify how.

"It's heartbreaking that she had to meet her end like this," said Kasandra Flett, the paternal aunt of Clowes' oldest child. "Nobody deserves this. Her children don't deserve to not have a mother anymore.

"She was loved and her children loved her and we loved her, it's a heartbreaking situation," said Flett.

Flett said Clowes was someone who would give you the shirt off her back and was a college graduate that once worked in health care. Flett said Cloweshad goals of traveling and providingfor her children and always tried to work hard.

"She tried to make something of herself, she had goals," said Flett.

Flett said it had been "a few years" since she spoke to Clowes and said she didn't know how Clowesknew the person charged in connection with her death.

But the news of Clowes' death devastated her and her family, creating a "surreal situation to be in."

"Her death was not fair," said Flett.

"For someone to be arrested, it did help with a sense of calm, but at the same time we're still grieving, we still grieve a death."

Meanwhile, Flett hopes the 28-year-old is remembered for her kindness, generosity and love for her children.

"Even if we loved her from a distance she was loved and she was not just someone to be thrown away," saidFlett.

"She was a person, she was a mom, she was a woman that was strong and she deserves the justice and her children deserve answers."