Amanda Bolt knew she was smart, says her older brother, Christopher Bolt.

She wasn't afraid to show it, and she tried to use her intelligence to help others see the best in themselves.

"She always cared about others more than herself. All through her life, she was always the brightest one in the room," Christoper Bolt told CBC News.

"Amanda had some problems in her life. She struggled with addiction and with that came the criminal aspect, as they go hand-in-hand."

The 28-year-old woman was arrested Nov. 2 by London police. The next day, during a routine check, she was found in medical distress in her cell. Officers administered Naloxone and she was taken to hospital.

She died more than a week later, on Nov. 13.

Family grieving

Her family is struggling to cope with the loss and to organize a celebration of life this weekend.

Christopher Bolt says his sister, Amanda, was always the brightest person in a room. (Kate Dubinski/CBC News)

"Near the end of her life, she was able to take the lessons she'd learned through her issues with addiction and become a peer mentor through the Intercommunity Health Clinic here in town," said Christopher Bolt.

"She wanted to help their patients learn proper coping mechanisms and possibly to get away from the lifestyle that could eventually end up taking their life."

Amanda was also looking forward to volunteering at London's needle exchange, her brother said

'Looking at the stars'

"There are lots of memories, but the best ones aren't of a certain time or place," Christopher Bolt said.

"It's the many nights we'd spend together on the beach in Port Stanley growing up, having bonfires, looking at the stars, and just spending time with friends. Those are the moments I'd like to cherish and that the family would like to hold dear."

Bolt wants to remind people to remember Amanda when they are passing people who are struggling on the streets of London.

"Physical appearance isn't what makes the person and everybody needs to realize that," he said.

"If you see somebody who may be down on their luck, we need to stop dehumanizing them and remember that they are people and that they do need our help, regardless of them being family or not."

Amanda Bolt leaves behind her mom and dad and three siblings, as well as a girlfriend and two dogs.

Her celebration of life will be held at the Port Stanley Legion on Saturday at from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.