Tina Fontaine's family facing first Christmas without teen

Less than four months since the death of Tina Fontaine, the slain teen's family is preparing to face their first holiday without her.

"She should be here," said Thelma Favel, Tina's great-aunt and guardian. "But in spirit she is."

Fifteen-year-old Fontaine was killedin August.Her body was dumped in the Red River and discovered by police on Aug. 17. Police have announcedno arrests in the case to date.

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FavelsaidChristmas was a special time for her great-niece.

"I wish everybody got to meet Tina before all of this, because then everybody would know who she really, really was," she said.

"She loved to bake her blueberry muffins and her devil's food cake was always so good."

Favel said she's struggling right now and calls the Sagkeeng's Wellness Centre crisis line regularly.

"I think everybody is doing what they can for me already," she said. "I think it's just me now that has to realize that there is help out there."

'She's not going to call'

Favel said she is reluctant to leaveher home attheSagkeengFirst Nationto seek further help in Winnipeg.

"As soon as I go out somewhere I come back I say, Did anybody call?' And the anybody I'm talking about is Tina," she said.

"But then it just dawns on me: She's not going to call."

Tina's sister,Sarah,has been getting help from a school counsellor, but she spends a lot of time in Tina's room alone.

"The teddy bears and everything, she won't let us get rid of those right now, and the star blanket also she keeps," said Favel.

Favel said she is trying hard to move forward and she has a message for all families.

"Just hold on to them. Don't ever let them go a day without letting them know how you feel. Always let them know that you love them."

Tina Fontaine's family will be holding a fundraiser in the new year to raise money for a headstone for the teenand her father.

Eugene Fontaine, 41, was beaten to deathin theSagkeengFirst Nation in October 2011. Two men have pleaded guilty to manslaughter in connection with his case.

Donations for the headstone can be made through the St. Alexander Roman Catholic Church.