Jennifer Scott (76) moved to Cromwell at the beginning of 2015, having spent most of her life in Ranfurly.
Her daughter, Angela Scott, said her ''always busy'' mother decided to retire to Cromwell, ''meet new people ... and do good over there''.
The mother of four, who had grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, loved baking, helping people and doing anything that ''kept her mind alive and her body moving''.
Mrs Scott worked most of her life as a registered nurse, was involved in Probus, Presbyterian Support, the church and enjoyed helping all sectors of the community, from young mothers to the elderly.
''She was one of those sort of 'bless her' people. She was very special ... [she] lived life to the fullest.''
On July 31, 2015, Mrs Scott went to Queenstown to have coffee with a friend. She got into her car to return home, but about 3.45pm, while travelling on State Highway 6 near Lake Hayes Estate, her vehicle was hit head-on by a car driven by Isaac David Madsen.
Mrs Scott died at the scene.
Madsen, who was 18 years old at the time, was seriously injured and taken to Southland Hospital. Last December, he was charged with careless driving causing Mrs Scott's death, but denied the charge.
In September, he was found guilty by Judge Mark Callaghan following a trial in the Queenstown District Court.
Yesterday, Judge Callaghan sentenced the now 20-year-old to 200 hours' community work and disqualified him for 12 months. Mrs Scott's family did not want any emotional harm payment, he said.
In court, Ms Scott said the family had not, at any stage, shown any animosity towards Madsen and had even sent flowers to his hospital bed.
However, they were ''extremely upset and disappointed'' the case had been dragged through the court system. As a result, Mrs Scott's integrity was brought into question during the trial.
''We are frustrated that it has come to this.
''Isaac, you have to live with this for the rest of your life, but we wish you well with your future,'' Ms Scott said in court.
After the sentencing, she told the Otago Daily Times her frustration was concerning the legal system, and that what she saw as a cut and dried case could be argued in such a way.
Regardless, Madsen was ''just an innocent little kid, really''.
''The thing is, we've all got children that age. We've all made mistakes at some stage in our lives ... He didn't do it on purpose, by any stretch, and that's where we feel for him.
''We would hope that if our kids did something like that, a lapse of judgement, that other people would be slightly forgiving for it.
''As I said to them, it's a pretty sorry mess. One life's been lost. I don't think we need to destroy another one.''
In court, Judge Callaghan said Mrs Scott's death was the result of ''momentary inattention'' by Madsen, an Auckland-based youth aid worker, who was either distracted, or fell asleep momentarily.
Having spent the day snowboarding at Cardrona, he was driving towards Queenstown, on State Highway 6 at Ladies Mile, when his car crossed the centreline and collided head-on with Mrs Scott's vehicle.
Judge Callaghan read part of a letter from Madsen, dated December 6. Madsen said he was ''completely devastated by the fact that the accident resulted in a wonderful life lost and am accepting of the sentence I will be given''.
Judge Callaghan said that ''speaks volumes'' for him.
