Sad news re Gancho Girl

Kiwi Katie · 03-15-24, 11:15 PM

Some of you may remember posts from Gancho Girl from New Zealand who was active on VF from 2008-2017. I have sad news which I've put off sharing - Paula (as I knew her) passed away in June of last year. She had struggled immensely with depression and took her own life.

We first connected in real life around 2011 after I discovered she was a fellow Kiwi VFer, as equally interested in barre workouts as I was and living only an hour from where I was based at the time. During that period I was working as a Pilates teacher and she was very keen on becoming one too so we always had a lot to chat about. She did her teacher training and also went on to become a Groove facilitator, while also being involved in massage and naturopathy.

Over time her mental health deteriorated - she closed her business and chose to focus on being a poet who wrote a lot about depression, and won some poetry awards along the way. We drifted apart - I didn't understand nor like some of the choices she made in life which I think contributed to her problems. She wrote of other friends drifting away too; perhaps for similar reasons, who knows. I was startled in June of last year when a photo of her appeared on my Facebook feed advising she was a missing person. Sadly her body was found a few weeks later.

Paula was a very interesting person - intelligent, artistic, and talented. I've looked back on some of her posts here and it's nice to remember her bubbly, funny, and caring side. I hesitated for a long time in writing his - in part because we didn't stay friends and partly because VF appeared to be fading away and I wasn't visiting much. Now it's been resurrected (thank you!!!) I thought the time was right to tell you all.

Katie x

toaster · 03-15-24, 11:26 PM

Katie, thank you for sharing. As a therapist, it always hits me hard to hear about anyone dying by suicide. I do remember some of Gancho Girl's posts here, and I'm sorry to hear that Paula came to such a sad end.

moonbeam31 · 03-16-24, 12:02 AM

Thank you for sharing this with us, most of us would not have known about this. I am very sorry to hear this, it is always so very sad to hear this.

Camember · 03-16-24, 03:31 AM

I'm really sorry to read such sad news

FirmDancer · 03-16-24, 04:47 AM

Sending condolences

Pat58 · 03-16-24, 07:08 AM

This is such sad news. What a tragic end for a lively and talented person. I hope Paula has found her peace.

seagreen01 · 03-16-24, 07:15 AM

I feel very sad reading this news and I remember some of her posts. I’m glad you have some good memories to keep of the better times.

sherry7899 · 03-16-24, 07:21 AM

I am so very sorry to read this. This is so tragic. I am sorry for the loss of your friend. I do remember her enthusiasm for Body Groove and how excited she had been about her training. I really hope she is at peace.

Leonana · 03-16-24, 08:00 AM

I’m so sorry. My condolences to her friends and family.

fanofladyvols · 03-16-24, 08:27 AM

I am so sorry for your loss.

Thanks for posting so we can mourn together 🤍

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03-15-24, 11:15 PM
Kiwi Katie Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Kapiti Coast, New Zealand	Sad news re Gancho Girl Some of you may remember posts from Gancho Girl from New Zealand who was active on VF from 2008-2017. I have sad news which I've put off sharing - Paula (as I knew her) passed away in June of last year. She had struggled immensely with depression and took her own life. We first connected in real life around 2011 after I discovered she was a fellow Kiwi VFer, as equally interested in barre workouts as I was and living only an hour from where I was based at the time. During that period I was working as a Pilates teacher and she was very keen on becoming one too so we always had a lot to chat about. She did her teacher training and also went on to become a Groove facilitator, while also being involved in massage and naturopathy. Over time her mental health deteriorated - she closed her business and chose to focus on being a poet who wrote a lot about depression, and won some poetry awards along the way. We drifted apart - I didn't understand nor like some of the choices she made in life which I think contributed to her problems. She wrote of other friends drifting away too; perhaps for similar reasons, who knows. I was startled in June of last year when a photo of her appeared on my Facebook feed advising she was a missing person. Sadly her body was found a few weeks later. Paula was a very interesting person - intelligent, artistic, and talented. I've looked back on some of her posts here and it's nice to remember her bubbly, funny, and caring side. I hesitated for a long time in writing his - in part because we didn't stay friends and partly because VF appeared to be fading away and I wasn't visiting much. Now it's been resurrected (thank you!!!) I thought the time was right to tell you all. Katie x

03-15-24, 11:26 PM
toaster Exchange Moderator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Western NY	Katie, thank you for sharing. As a therapist, it always hits me hard to hear about anyone dying by suicide. I do remember some of Gancho Girl's posts here, and I'm sorry to hear that Paula came to such a sad end. __________________ Beth aka Toaster (she/her) *Follow me @YogiBethC* YouTube\|Instagram\|Facebook And yes, I am Reviewer Dr. Beth on Amazon.

03-16-24, 12:02 AM
moonbeam31 Join Date: Jan 2005	Thank you for sharing this with us, most of us would not have known about this. I am very sorry to hear this, it is always so very sad to hear this.

03-16-24, 03:31 AM
Camember Join Date: Apr 2022 Location: Spain	I'm really sorry to read such sad news

03-16-24, 04:47 AM
FirmDancer VF Supporter Join Date: Apr 2002	Sending condolences __________________ “Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!” -- Hunter S. Thompson Current Rotations: JSmith: STRENGTHEN ManFlowYoga: morning sessions & Strength Foundations YogaGlo & MFML: easy, morning classes

03-16-24, 07:08 AM
Pat58 VF Supporter Join Date: May 2002 Location: Connecticut	This is such sad news. What a tragic end for a lively and talented person. I hope Paula has found her peace.

03-16-24, 07:15 AM
seagreen01 VF Supporter Join Date: Nov 2001	I feel very sad reading this news and I remember some of her posts. I’m glad you have some good memories to keep of the better times.

03-16-24, 07:21 AM
sherry7899 Join Date: Jun 2003	I am so very sorry to read this. This is so tragic. I am sorry for the loss of your friend. I do remember her enthusiasm for Body Groove and how excited she had been about her training. I really hope she is at peace. __________________ "Say you are tired and you will be. Believe you are strong and you are." (Sean O'Malley) The cat in my avatar is my sweetheart named Bonkers

03-16-24, 08:00 AM
Leonana Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Arizona	I’m so sorry. My condolences to her friends and family. __________________ Sherry

03-16-24, 08:27 AM
fanofladyvols Join Date: May 2004 Location: Modify City, State of Fierce	I am so sorry for your loss. Thanks for posting so we can mourn together 🤍 __________________ Don't just work hard, work smart....Pat Head Summitt Never give up on your body!-- Miranda Esmonde-White Word/Guiding Principle for 2024: Embrace: embrace my faith, my family, my friends, myself, the process, the progress, the hard work, the strength program I choose, the recovery methods and rest I need, my life, the good times, and the memories of good people.