Thera had been widowed two years prior, so in 1988 she lived alone in her home located at 806093 Oxford Road 29 (formally Lot 5 Concession 7),  Blandford-Blenheim Township, RR 2, ​Innerkip, Ontario​.  She did her best to keep up with the house on her own. But she was often checked on by family, friends, and neighbors who were eager to give her a hand any chance they could.