A Buzzards Bay woman died Friday after falling from an unfinished loft at her sister’s home in Rockwood, Maine, in what local authorities called a tragic accident.

Kendra Donovan, 54, was visiting her sister when she got up early Friday morning and became “possibly disoriented in the dark and fell from the sleeping loft to the floor, 10 feet below,’’ said chief deputy James Ross with the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office.

Family members heard her fall and called 911, he said. Emergency personnel arrived around 5:30 a.m., according to police logs.

“The home was nearing completion, but the loft area was unfinished with no railings installed yet,’’ said Ross. An investigation found no signs of alcohol, drugs, or foul play.

“If you needed somebody, she was right there for you,’’ said Elaine Twomey, who had become close friends with Donovan in the past year.

Donovan is a nurse but was unable to work for a short time after recently injuring her wrist, according to Twomey. She had stayed briefly with her father before going to visit her sister in Maine for a week, planning to return on Sept. 6.

Donovan had been living at Twomey’s bed-and-breakfast on the Cape Cod Canal for the past few months, said Twomey.

“She loved the ocean,’’ said Twomey. “Walking along it . . . sitting on her porch, watching cruise ships, that sort of thing.’’

Donovan, who was helpful, kind, and neat, sent a thoughtful letter thanking Twomey for small chores for her like taking care of the mail, she said.

“ ‘Love, Kendra,’ ’’ said Twomey. “[The letter arrived] Friday. This happened Friday morning.’’

Nicole Fleming can be reached at nicole.fleming@globe.com.