Phone tips and messages that have led nowhere have been Shelley Fillipoff’s life for more than a decade.
Nov. 28 marks the 11th year since Emma Fillipoff vanished from the west coast of Victoria, B.C.
When reached at her home near Perth just days before the anniversary, Shelley said she wasn’t feeling the best.
“Everything about November is crappy,” she said. “I don’t feel any different on the date. November is a bad month for me. I’ve always hated this month.”
Shelley said she’s not marking the anniversary date of her daughter’s disappearance any differently than any other day of the week. Emma is still missing, and she’s still searching.
But she said she’s appreciative of those who have reached out to say they’re lighting a candle or offering a prayer of hope. “That means a lot to me,” she said.
Shelley said she gets messages of encouragement from around the world — people just reaching out to say they’re thinking of her. “I’ve had a few get in touch with me from Europe, which I find pretty odd and wonderful.”
It would be nice to know what happened to her daughter, she said, but in no way would that be a sign of closure.
“I believe she’s still alive, and I have to hold onto that,” she said. “I would rather keep hoping … 11 years later, it is raw.”
Memories of Emma swarm her.
“Emma is like a blanket,” she said. “She’s a blanket that’s wrapped around me all the time.”
