Lucie F. Roussel, longtime mayor of La Prairie, Que., died Sunday afternoon after being stung 15 times by wasps while near her cottage in Stratford, in eastern Quebec.

Roussel unwittingly stepped on a wasps nest while out walking, and was stung multiple times on her legs. She was declared dead at the hospital in nearby Thetford Mines.

According to La Prairie spokeswoman Chantal Charron, an EpiPen administered to Roussel by paramedics had no effect.

Charron said Roussel was not allergic to wasps and that she seems to have died from the number of stings and the resulting shock.

Allergist Jaime Del Carpio, however, said it's likely Roussel was allergic but was simply not aware of it.

Roussel, 51, was interim mayor of La Prairie between 2003 and 2005 before becoming mayor. She had recently won her third term as mayor.

She leaves behind her daughter Constance and son Antonin.

The City of La Prairie, on Montreal's South Shore, has lowered its flags in mourning.