Gwen Farley's family is still learning to live without her, six months after her death.

At 65 years old, Gwen was raising her 15-year-old grandson and working as a registered nurse at a long-term care facility in Coeur d’Alene.

It was there that she is believed to have contracted COVID-19.

Around midnight on Jan. 10, Gwen was rushed by ambulance to Kootenai Health. She was intubated almost immediately.

When her condition did not improve, her family made the difficult decision to withdraw life support.

Gwen died in the early hours of Jan. 22, with her son, Justin, at her side.

The grief remains fresh.

“Everybody’s taking it day by day,” Gwen’s sister, Gayleen Holmes, said Monday. “It’s sad when we think about how she’s gone. But we all believe she’s in a better place. That gives us hope.”

But there are bright spots, even after months of gloom.

“She’s got a new little granddaughter,” Gayleen said.

Gwen’s daughter, Cassie, gave birth to a girl on Monday.

The baby was born just hours before Gayleen spoke with The Press, so recently that she did not yet have a name.

By all accounts, Gwen was a modest person who liked to help others without drawing attention to herself.

Since her passing, many in the community have reached out to her family to share stories of how she impacted their lives through donations and volunteer work.

“We found out so much more that we didn’t know,” Gayleen said.

Gwen played multiple instruments, including piano, guitar and banjo. She shared her musical skills with her church community at Journey Ministries in Hayden — but not just there.

Gayleen said she learned that Gwen had volunteered for years at a local school, teaching students to make musical instruments out of household items.

The class Gwen taught was so popular that there was a waiting list.

Her family had no idea.

“She was a lot more amazing than any of us really knew,” Gayleen said.

Due to the pandemic, Gwen’s family waited to arrange a celebration of life until the community could gather safely.

A graveside service will be 1 p.m. Friday at Coeur d’Alene Memorial Gardens Cemetery, 7315 N. Government Way.

Gwen’s celebration of life will follow at 3 p.m. at Yates Funeral Home, 373 E. Hayden Avenue.

Gayleen said visitors are encouraged to bring a favorite dessert to share, but it’s not required.

“We just want to remember her,” she said. “She was a wonderful person.”