Tourists mourn death of beloved Australian homestay host, Aunt Glenn
The Australian well-known figure in Pilok, Kanchanaburi, Glennis Setabandhu, known as “Grandma Glenn” or “Aunt Glenn”, died peacefully at the age of 88 on Sunday, August 23.
Glennis, the strong figure associated with Somsak Mining in Thong Pha Phum district, became widely known among travellers for her homestay “Aunt Glenn’s House”, where she welcomed tourists with homemade cakes for decades.
The Australian woman moved to Thailand after marrying the Thai mining engineer Somsak Setabandhu. The couple’s relationship began while they were studying at university in Australia.
Glennis decided to move to Thailand, and the couple built their life together in the remote mountains of Pilok in Thong Pha Phum district, Kanchanaburi, where Somsak established a tin mining operation known as Somsak Mining.
Their life in Pilok was far removed from the comforts Glennis had known in Australia. The remote mining area had no electricity, running water or other modern conveniences. Still, she moved there to remain with her husband and helped manage their home while preparing food and homemade bakery products.
The mining business later faced difficulties during an economic crisis and eventually closed. Somsak subsequently became seriously ill and passed away, while Glennis continued to preserve the place associated with their life together.
The former mining site was later transformed into a homestay. Glennis became known as “Aunt Glenn of the Mountains” among visitors.
Many tourists who had stayed at Glennis’s accommodation visited the homestay and posted pictures with her on social media platforms to express their condolences.
A three-day Christian religious ceremony and wake will be held at Suebsampanthawong Church on Si Wiang Road in Sathon district, Bangkok, from August 26 to August 28. The ceremonies will begin at 7pm each evening.
A cremation ceremony will then take place at Wat That Thong on August 29 at 2pm. Her body will subsequently be moved for a final farewell and prayer ceremony before her ashes are placed alongside her husband at the Setabandhu family temple in Kanchanaburi in accordance with her final wishes.
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