Tight-knit employees of a Penticton, B.C. mountain resort are grappling with the death of a co-worker whose frozen body was found just steps from her home.

Mounties have ruled out foul play in the death of French national Benoite Camille Marye, 31, whose body was found Monday on a path across the street from the Stray Horse Inn at Apex Mountain Resort.

Sgt. Rick Dellebuur of the Penticton detachment said the woman had been at a social gathering the night before and appeared to have been heading home.

She had taken off her jacket before she died, which could indicate hypothermia.

Temperatures that night dipped to -12 C in the valley, said Dellebuur.

"I imagine it was even colder up in the Apex," he added.

The B.C. Coroner's Service was scheduled to conduct an autopsy Wednesday to shed light on why she collapsed.

Meanwhile, friends at the mountain resort are left to grieve the death of Marye, who had been working as a lift operator since November.

Hardest hit is Marye's boyfriend with whom she worked.

Marye and her boyfriend had just recently won awards for outstanding customer service.

"It's been incredibly difficult," said resort general manager James Shalman.

"We have 120 employees and all of them are like family toward each other."

Family members in France had been notified and were en route to B.C.

michael.wood@sunmedia.ca

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