Friends and family of Lorraine Gempler, 82, struggle to make sense of what happened to her on Monday evening.

Sources told Spectrum News that at about 7 PM Monday, Gempler was assaulted and killed in her home on Swiss Hill Road North in the Sullivan County hamlet of Kenoza Lake.

"I can't believe somebody would take her life like that," said Gempler's neighbor and friend Kathy Aleschus. "If you knew her, you would love her just as much as I do."

The Gempler family has been known to many in this small community near the Pennsylvania border.

Lorraine's husband, John, owned Gempler Farm and managed the Calicoon Insurance Cooperative.

According to John's obituary from March 2016, he was a member of the Pennsylvania Livestock Association and a long-time supporter of 4-H programs for local youth, and "many friends in all aspects of his busy life."

Lorraine has been described similarly.

Relatives said on Wednesday that Lorraine was an administrative assistant at Calicoon Hospital for 25 years.

"We're just trying to get over this," Gempler's son-in-law David Bodenstein said outside the home. "She liked being a private person and never bothered anyone."

Aleschus echoed those sentiments, adding that "Lori" loved everyone around her.

Aleschus said she spoke to Lorraine Gempler on Saturday, and delayed their plans together, thinking the two friends should pick a better, drier day.

"I just had a nice conversation with her on Saturday," Aleschus said. "We were talking about going out for lunch this week. I said 'It's going to be really rainy, so why don't we wait until next week?' Now she's gone."

Details on the circumstances and the one person in custody were limited as of Wednesday evening.

The Sullivan County Sheriff and District Attorney have scheduled a press conference outside the Sullivan County Courthouse for Thursday at 1:30 PM to discuss the case.

Stay with Spectrum News for developments on this story.