Friends and family of Olga Mansbridge are coming to grips with her sudden death on Jan. 1 in Fort Smith, N.W.T.

Mansbridge, 53, was found dead outside her home. The cause of death has not been released.

Chief Dave Poitras of the Salt River First Nation said Mansbridge was one of his councillors.

Olga Mansbridge was 53 years old. She worked as a band councillor for the Salt River First Nation, and she was also a nurse. (Submitted photo)

"She was very dedicated to our membership. She brought their concerns to council. She was very outspoken. When she had something to say, she said it and that’s the way we took it too, because we knew that she said it with her heart behind it. She was a hard worker. She did have a sense of humor. You know, it came out at meetings and she was a nice person to be around. Lots of sadness and people are really going to miss her," said Poitras.

Mansbridge was also a nurse and had recently moved to Fort Smith, where she was from, to work at the local hospital.

Funeral services will be held Thursday at Saint Joseph's cathedral in Fort Smith.