Colleagues pay tribute to murdered mother Jodie Jewell

The Modbury North woman and former Optus worker had suffered a devastating setback that could have cost her a chance at a new life, an ex-colleague says.

Colleagues of an Adelaide mother allegedly murdered by her estranged husband inside their family home have revealed heartbreaking details about her final weeks as a fundraiser is set up in her honour.

Modbury North mother Jodie Jewell, 55, was found dead inside her home on Tuesday night after allegedly being murdered by her estranged husband Kevin Jewell, who fled the property, sparking a statewide manhunt.

A former colleague, who worked with Ms Jewell at telco giant Optus has revealed Ms Jewell had resigned from her job just weeks before her death, missing out on a redundancy by days after the company slashed Adelaide jobs.

The former colleague, who asked to remain anonymous, said Ms Jewell, who worked for the telco for more than 20 years, had tried to withdraw her resignation and use the redundancy payment, understood to be worth about $70,000, to start a new life with her 16-year-old daughter but had missed out on the payment.

“This would have given her an opportunity to get her out of the situation she was in,” they said.

“This would have really set her up.”

Days before her death, Ms Jewell had told friends she planned to leave her husband and start a “fresh” life with her daughter.

Two days after her brutal killing, they remembered Ms Jewell as a “beautiful human being” and a “generous” and “caring” woman.

An Optus spokesman said the company was “extremely saddened” to learn of Ms Jewell’s death.

“She was a much-loved employee and colleague for more than 20 years,” he said.

“We extend our deepest condolences to Jodie’s family at this exceptionally difficult time.”

Another former colleague said Ms Jewell was “very sweet and kind hearted”.

“She was so dedicated to her work and very hard working and was doing this all for her daughter who she talked about so often and loved her dearly,” he said.

“I will miss her so much.

“The pain of losing such a wonderful person is unbearable.”

A GoFundMe has been set up in alleged murder victim Jodie Jewell’s honour. Picture: Supplied

A colleague said Ms Jewell missed out on being eligible for a redundancy payment, understood to be worth about $70,000, by days in the weeks before her death. Picture: Supplied

“She was just a generous, caring person.”

He said Ms Jewell had not spoken to colleagues about the domestic violence police allege she was subjected to throughout her marriage.

“She is the type of person who would have tried to make her marriage work for the sake of her daughter,” he said.

“She never spoke to us about her husband and what she was going through.

“Last month she did seem depressed and I thought it’s because she was leaving the company but (I) never knew the pain she was going through in her personal life.

“I can’t stop thinking about her and what she would have been going through all this time.”

The tributes come as a GoFundMe is set up to support Ms Jewell’s teenage daughter.

“Jodie was a beloved individual whose life was taken away through an act of senseless violence,” organiser Samantha Benson wrote.

“A loving mum daughter sister Aunty and friend, Jodie touched the hearts of those around them with their kindness, warmth, and infectious spirit.

“As we mourn their loss, we are determined to come together as a community to support the family in their time of need.”

More than $5000 of a $10,000 goal had been reached as of Thursday morning.

“No family should have to endure the pain of losing a loved one to such a tragic circumstance,” Ms Benson wrote.