A beloved and influential former Democratic member of Utah's state legislature has passed away.

Former State Sen. Paula Julander (D) died on Monday in the Sugar House neighborhood of Salt Lake City at the age of 86, according to her family, KSL reported.

No cause of death was disclosed, but her 16-year political career was ended in 2005 for health reasons, and the family's statement mentioned that she'd been receiving hospice care.

"My mom was a fighter"

According to KSL, former State Sen. Julander's death was confirmed by her daughter, Julie Shipman, who told the outlet, "(Her) hospice nurse said: 'As you live is how you die.' And I thought that is such a cool quote and so appropriate because my mom was a fighter."

"She was known for her work with women, children, health care, and the downtrodden. She was pro-LGBTQ before there was such a thing," she continued.

Shipman revealed that she learned from a lobbyist that her mother, a trained nurse, had once been credited with saving the life of a fellow state senator by noticing that they were ill and encouraging them to get checked out, which ultimately led to a diagnosis and life-saving treatment.

"What I've heard from other people is it was her ability to cross the aisle. She's just a charmer and she wanted everybody to get along," she added of her mother, who served as a non-Mormon Democrat in a state dominated by conservative Mormons. "We need a little more of that in today's politics."

Tributes to a friend

Former State Sen. Patrice Arent (D), who'd served alongside Julander, said in an Instagram post, "I am very sad about the passing of my dear friend and former colleague, Paula Julander."

"She was a fabulous state senator and a wonderful role model for many so people," Arent added. "She was classy, smart, and effective. She was always ethical and worked on many important causes, particularly health care. May her memory be a blessing to her family and all of us who knew her."

Also weighing in on Julander's passing, according to KSL, was Democratic Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall, who said, "Paula Julander taught me grace and tenacity, to have fun and always be honest, and expect life's unexpected turns. She brightened every room she entered and loved (her husband) Rod and their family with all her heart."

Resigned for health reasons; replacement choice ignored

KSL noted that Julander was born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina, but moved to Utah in 1972 and was first elected to represent Salt Lake City in the state House in 1988, when she defeated then-incumbent Rep. Olene Walker, who would go on to serve as the state's governor.

Julander served two terms in the House before being elected to the state Senate in 1998, where she served until she resigned in February 2005 for health reasons after being hospitalized, according to Deseret News.

At the time of her resignation, Julander had asked Democratic delegates to nominate her husband, Rod Julander, to take over her seat in the Senate, but the Salt Lake Tribune reported at the time that, despite Julander's choice having the backing of fellow lawmakers and leadership, the delegates stunned everyone by instead selecting gay rights advocate Scott McCoy to fill the vacant seat.

The Tribune noted that the Julanders, who'd revealed that Paula suffered from diverticulitis, or intestinal inflammation, were "disappointed" and "upset" by the delegates' selection of McCoy, especially since she'd always been a strong supporter of the gay rights issue and its advocates, "and then they organized to defeat her candidate."