The beloved New York grandmother who died after falling into an uncovered manhole in Manhattan was heading to work for an overnight cleaning shift at the time, according to friends of the family.
Donike Gocaj, 56, plummeted to her gruesome death around 11:20 p.m. in Midtown Monday night, where she had seconds earlier parked her car and started walking to her late-night job with a cleaning company.
“She was on her way to work. She did cleaning — the overnight shift,” a friend of Gocaj’s niece who works near the scene told The Post.
It’s not clear exactly where she was heading to work.
Gocaj worked for United Building Maintenance, a company that contracts with local businesses for cleaning services.
The company declined to comment about Gocaj’s death.
“At this time, no comment,” a representative told The Post.
“It’s hard for the family and it’s hard for us, too.”
Gocaj was from Albania, the family friend, who is also from Albania, said. The tragic death has left the Albanian community in New York is feeling “horrible,” she added.
Gocaj’s son had just gotten married last summer, and she “was so happy” the friend said.
“She was so happy when her son got married.”
“I can’t stop thinking about it. I’m a mother and my son is gonna get married in a couple of months and I was thinking, same thing.”