Mindy Godin, stabbed to death in Grand Falls, 'had a big heart'

In one of their last conversations, Mlanie Godin texted her younger cousin Mindy Godin,asking what her eldest son would like for Christmas.

Mindy respondedwith a photoofmonster trucks.

But if that wasn'tpossible, she sent another photo of Dinotrux, a part-dinosaur, part-vehicle toy.Ty, the red one, was her two boys' favourite.

That was Mindy.

"She was an amazing person and she cared for her kids," Mlanie said Tuesday, trying to hold back tears. "She would have done anything for them."

Mindy was stabbed at her Grand Fallshome on Monday morning.

Every little gesture means a lot for the family.- MlanieGodin

After the attack, she ran next door to a convenience store, where she collapsed and died before help arrived, Grand Falls police said.

A man was arrested at the scene.

Mindy's two sons were at home when their mother was attackedandwatched the entire thing, according toher brother, Tom Godin.

Man charged with 2nd-degree murder

Jonathan Fontaine, 31, of Grand Fallshas been charged with second-degree murder inGodin's death.

Fontaine appeared in Edmundston provincial court just before 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. He appeared to be almost in tears as he sat in the courtroom, shaking, with his arms crossed, as he scanned the courtroom with wide eyes.

After Judge Nicole Angersread the charge out loud, the case was adjourned until the afternoon, when legal aid lawyer Alexandre Phaneuf requested Fontaine be sent to Campbellton for a five-day fitness assessment.

Fontaineis toreturn to court Jan. 4 at 10:30 a.m.

A loyal friend

Mlanie remembers Mindy always making forts out of blankets with her boys, who are four and three. She took them swimming or spent time making shapes out of playdough.

"She had a big heart," Mlanie said. "One of the best moms I know."

Mlanie said Mindy was the little sister she never had. She was loyal and always stood up for people she cared about.

"She was definitely someone you wanted to have on your side."

The two of them became close when they lived together in Moncton several years ago. Lately, they'dspent most of their time joking by text message.

"We had a good chemistry for that."

Mlanie found out about the death of her cousin by reading a Facebook post.

She read it over three times.

"All I could think about at first was the pain she went through and her little boys."

Different groups in the community have already startedraising moneyfor the family.

Mlanie said one group has raised $700, which will be used to buy Christmas presents for the two boys.

The gifts will be from their mom.

"I want the community to know that we are really touched by everything they're doing at the moment," Melanie said. "Every little gesture means a lot for the family."

'Everyone is sad'

Mlanie also wanted to express her family's appreciation for all the posts on Facebook about ending domestic violence.

"If Mindy was alive she would have been the first one to support that cause and to be vocal about it."

Mlanie, who lives in Moncton, is hoping to be in Edmundston for Christmas.

But since she's living in a different health zone because of COVID-19, she's not sure that's possible.

The two boys are spending Christmas with their grandmother and are being well-taken care of by aunts and uncles.

Mlanie said if the family could hold a proper funeral, it would be hard to fit everyone inside the building, because Mindy touched so many people.

"I'm not the only one everyone is sad."

'Forever in our hearts'

In a Facebook post, the Grand Falls McDonald's said it had set up a space atthe restaurant as a memorial for Godin, who workedat the restaurant.

Outside the fast-food restaurant, friends, colleagues and people in the communitywere placingflowers, teddy bears andposters that said, "Forever in our hearts."

Residents were encouraged to visit and leave something for Godin's family or to honour her memory. For one hour on Tuesday, the memorial was to be for family members only.

"She will deeply be missed by all co-workers and also by her/our clients at yourGrand Falls McDonald's," the restaurant post said.

"The first window will never be the same."

The house and convenience storewhere the attackhappened were still taped off by police on Tuesday.