May 30, 2008 7:28 pm US/Central
Heart Attack Kills Woman During Tornado Cleanup
(WCCO)
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Before the tornado, MacLennan lived in her Hugo home with her 9-year-old daughter with special needs and her husband Fred, who is deaf.
CBS
A 62-year-old Hugo woman whose home was damaged by Sunday's tornado has died from an apparent heart attack. Authorities said Marilyn MacLennan was cleaning up around her home Thursday when she suffered the heart attack.
"That was Marilyn. She would take care of business, and she would work very, very hard to bring things back to an even keel," said her cousin Etta Erickson.
Just after 4 p.m. Thursday, a neighbor noticed MacLennan lying on the ground unconscious. They called 911 and paramedics rushed her to a Maplewood hospital, where she was pronounced dead of an apparent heart attack.
"There is no way you can go through that kind of trauma [losing your home] without having a reaction to it," said Erickson.
Before the tornado, MacLennan lived in her Hugo home with her 9-year-old daughter with special needs and her husband Fred, who is deaf. They moved to Hugo a year ago from Washington State so MacLennan and Fred could be closer to their children and grandchildren. MacLennan's family said she was their "rock."
"They are very sad. This is a huge loss to have lost this lovely home that they've only been in a short time, and now to lose Marilyn as well," said Erickson.
Erickson said MacLennan will be remembered for her sense of humor and her faith. A faith her family will rely on to help them cope with their loss.
"Marilyn loved people and she connected deeply with everyone. I think anyone you would talk with about who she was, they would describe the depth of her heart. She had just a wonderful sense of humor and people were drawn to her," said Erickson.
MacLennan and her husband built their home just a year ago. She leaves behind four children and seven grandchildren. The family said they were not aware of any health issues she may have had.
A trust fund has been set up for MacLennan's family at Wells Fargo Bank in White Bear Lake. For more information, call (800) 869-3557.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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