North Apollo woman who drowned at national park in Montana remembered as sweet and compassionate

A North Apollo woman who slipped and fell from rocks and drowned Sunday at a national park in Montana is being remembered for her kind heart.

The National Park Service said in a statement that Gillian Tones, 26, slipped on slick rocks at Glacier National Park about 5:20 p.m. and fell into Virginia Creek between St. Mary and Virginia Falls about 200 yards above a trail bridge.

Tones was swept up by fast-moving water and went over a series of smaller water­falls, then was pinned underwater by a log for several minutes before others pulled her from the river, the park service said.

Bystanders attempted to resuscitate her, but Tones never regained consciousness and was pronounced dead about two hours later, authorities said.

Family friend Sue Crawford, a Trib Total Media employee, remembered Tones as caring and kind.

“She’s always just been the sweetest person on the planet,” Crawford said. “She’s very compassionate to others.”

“If you knew ‘Gill, you knew she was the most amazing girl with an absolutely contagious smile,” Kristin Cocco wrote in a Facebook tribute. “She was so full of life. That little girl stole my heart the moment she joined our church family.

“I remember when she was a little girl I would sneak little gifts for her and leave them in the narthex. I never told her who they were from and was so sad to stop when we found a new church home. She always held a special place.

“She grew up to be the most amazing woman, full of life and love. She will certainly be missed, by anyone who had the pleasure of crossing paths with her.”

Tones was a 2015 graduate of Apollo-Ridge High School.

“We at Apollo-Ridge are deeply saddened by the tragic news of Gillian Tones passing,” said Superintendent Matt Curci.

“She was a terrific young lady who had a very positive impact on our school community, and her family is certainly in our thoughts and prayers.”

Tones went through the Westmoreland Community College Nursing Program and most recently worked as a traveling nurse. She was a member of the Apollo Free Methodist Church.

Tones earned The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses from The DAISY Foundation in October 2022.

She was with UPMC St. Margaret hospital at the time, and one of her patients wrote to the nonprofit about how Tones “showed compassion and care that should be mimicked by all nurses,” according to the foundation’s website.

When reached Tuesday, foundation co-founder Bonnie Barnes said she was saddened to learn of Tones’ passing.

“All of us at The DAISY Foundation were heart­broken to learn of Gillian’s tragic death,” Barnes said. “She was recognized with The DAISY Award for the compassionate way she delivered patient care, making her patients feel important and listened to. She was a role model for extraordinary nursing.”

Arrangements have been entrusted to Curran-Shaffer Funeral Home & Crematory in Apollo.

Viewing and services were not announced as of late Tuesday.

A GoFundMe effort was launched to help support the family that evening. It had raised more than $7,400 of its $10,000 goal within hours of launch with more than 100 people donating.

Tones is survived by her parents Michael and Krystal Tones; brother, Dillon (Sarah) Tones of Bethel Park; sisters, Emily & Makayla Tones, both of North Apollo; boyfriend, Dominic DiBernardo of North Apollo; and her maternal grandmother, Louise Davis of Spring Church, Kiski Township.