Dillon Tones once asked his younger sister, Gillian, why she wanted to get into nursing.

He was curious why people chose the field because nurses often see people at their worst.

“She said, ‘You’re right, but I also get to be there to do as much as I can,’ ” said Tones, 29, of Bethel Park.

“It wasn’t the job — it was the opportunity to be there and leave a lasting impact on someone.

“She was a bright soul in the world and the community around her.”

Gillian Tones, 26, of North Apollo died Sunday at Glacier National Park in Montana, according to the National Park Service.

NPS spokeswoman Gina Icenoggle said in a statement that Gillian slipped on wet, slick rocks and fell into Virginia Creek between St. Mary and Virginia Falls, about 200 yards above a trail bridge.

“(She) was quickly swept up by the cold, fast-moving water and went over a series of smaller waterfalls, then was pinned underwater by a log for several minutes until heroic efforts by other park visitors led to pulling her from the river,” Icenoggle said.

Others tried to resuscitate her, but Gillian never regained consciousness and was pronounced dead a few hours later.

Those who knew Gillian recalled her as someone who was energetic, compassionate and kind.

“She was full of life and energy,” Tones said. “She shared her life with so many people.”

“She was always someone you could rely on. She was a rock for me.”

Gillian was the second of four siblings and, when she was growing up, people would compliment her on her selfless nature.

“As an adult, she lived that as a nurse,” Tones said.

Gillian was a 2015 graduate of Apollo-Ridge High School and went through Westmoreland County Community College’s nursing program. Most recently, she worked as a travel nurse.

In October 2022, while working at UPMC St. Margaret, she received The DAISY Award for extraordinary nurses from The DAISY Foundation. A patient had written to the foundation that Gillian “showed compassion and care that should be mimicked by all nurses.”

“She had a natural gravitation toward helping people,” her brother said.

Not only was Gillian dedicated to helping others, she also had a zest for life and would befriend people quickly, touching many lives and staying in touch with people over the years, he said.

“She would build relationships out of thin air. She was always there in moments of need,” Tones said.

In her free time, Gillian loved to hike, travel, listen to music and be in nature, he said. She was always at peace and encouraged others to explore the simpler things in life.

“It’s a truly unique person that can do that and see what many of us bypass,” he said.

Tones thanked the community for its support over the past few days. Funeral arrangements for Gillian have yet to be set.

“She was my best friend. I don’t know how I’m going to figure out life without her, but I will because she would want me to.”

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