Update: A suspect has been arrested in the death of Sunshine Stewart. Read the story: 17-year-old arrested in paddleboarder’s death in Union

Maine was a large part of Sunshine Stewart’s soul, her friend said.

The Tenants Harbor resident felt at home among the wildlife and on top of the waves, whether in a sailboat or lobster boat, her longtime friend, Kimberly Hamill said.

Police have said Stewart’s body was found last week after she went missing while paddleboarding on Crawford Pond in Knox County. Maine State Police said the 48-year-old’s death was determined to be a homicide, but other details, including her cause of death and whether any arrests have been made, have not been released.

“Detectives are actively pursuing every avenue, and we will provide updates when it’s appropriate and responsible to do so,” Shannon Moss, a spokesperson for the state police, said in a statement Friday. “We continue to ask the public to remain vigilant, be aware of their surroundings, and report anything suspicious to law enforcement. Our focus remains on getting answers for the victim’s family and holding the person responsible accountable.”

Hamill said Stewart was tough and capable. She said she is shocked that her friend was killed.

Hamill said Stewart loved the outdoors, the ocean and was a “jack of all trades.”

Stewart was a talented craftsperson and fixed up old Maine homes for work, including her own in Tenants Harbor, Hamill said.

She said Stewart had attended Bradford College in Haverhill, Massachusetts, and later in life became a sailor in Saint John in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

“She didn’t let anything be a hindrance,” Hamill said, adding that Stewart was an independent woman.

Stewart and Hamill both attended Union Elementary School. Although she moved a few times with her family, Hamill said she always had a strong connection to the Midcoast.

Bruce Twyon, 59, said he met Stewart while living on Saint John. He said they connected through the hospitality industry — she was a bartender and he ran a charter boat company. He remembered her as a generous, outspoken woman who was a great listener.

“She was a kindhearted person. A little tough on the outside, so you kind of had to break through that a little bit,” Twyon said. “But once you were there, you had her for life.”

Even though she moved home to Maine after living on the island for a few years, Twyon said that every time they spoke to each other it felt like “she was still here.”

Annie Haven, who became close friends with Stewart in college, described her as the “friend that everyone wishes they had in their lives.” She shared a voicemail Stewart left for her, saying she missed her and was thinking about her.

“She’s the girl that always picked up the phone,” Haven said in a statement. “She’s the girl that always told you you’re beautiful.”