Lesney Valencia, the 38-year-old Burnaby mother of five slain in her home earlier this week, was a "lovely, sweet woman" who adored her children, a family friend told ctvbc.ca Thursday night.
Valencia's body was found inside her home on 14th Avenue on Monday afternoon after neighbours alerted police to a violent incident.
Some of the woman's children -- ages three to 16 -- were inside the home at the time, but not hurt.
Oswill Vergara, 44, who police say had been in an estranged relationship with the woman, was arrested several blocks away in the parking lot of a gas station. He has been charged with second-degree murder and made his first court appearance on Tuesday.
The five children, who have no relatives in Canada, are staying with a family friend until the Ministry of Children and Family Development finds a permanent arrangement.
"It's very important that they stay together. They're really leaning on each other right now," said Mary Lynn Jacoby, whose son is friends with Valencia's eldest son.
Jacoby said she learned about Valencia's death from her son and immediately rushed to the hospital.
Jacoby said the family moved to Canada from Colombia six years ago.
All of Valencia's children respected her and were always willing to help her, Jacoby said.
"They were very respectful of her. As a parent, that's what we always hope for."
Valencia was connected to a Spanish-speaking church in Vancouver and church members have visited the children, Jacoby said.
A fund "for the kids of the Lesney Valencia family" has been set up at the Royal Bank of Canada branch at 439 North Road in Coquitlam. The transit number is 01200 and the account number is 5253778.
Additional details about how to make a donation can be found by going to http://sites.google.com/site/lesneyvalencia
With files from CTV British Columbia's Maria Weisgarber.
