FALL RIVER — Funeral homes and St. Mary’s Cathedral are extending their condolences — and their support — to families grieving the loved ones who lost their lives in the deadly Gabriel House fire.
“We feel awful about the tragedy, as everybody does,” said Kim Perry, a managing director at the Waring-Sullivan funeral home and cremation services at 178 Winter St. Perry shared that two victims — Rui Albernaz, 64, and Margaret Duddy, 69 — and their families are receiving services based on what they need, and “as they wish to be taken care of,” Perry said.
The fire at the Gabriel House assisted living facility, 261 Oliver St., on Sunday, July 13, was the deadliest in the state in the past 41 years. As of Friday morning, nine people had died due to injuries suffered in the fire.
The memorial outside Gabriel House in Fall River, 261 Oliver St., grows on Wednesday, July 16, as the city mourns the nine people who died in a fire at the assisted living facility on July 13. Residents place flowers and candles outside the building which was home to about 70 residents.
The family of Albernaz shared with The Herald News that funeral costs for Rui Albernaz were being covered by Waring-Sullivan, in addition to costs associated with a funeral Mass and music covered by St. Mary’s Cathedral at 327 Second St. His funeral is scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 23.
Owner and Director Tom James of SouthCoast-Boyko Funeral Homes at 1555 Pleasant St. said he was helping to cover funeral costs for two victims — Kim Mackin, 71, and Richard Rochan, 78, a Vietnam veteran — and their families impacted by the Gabriel House fire. James shared that three other families have loved ones, including Brenda Cropper currently receiving end-of-life care, but planned to receive South Coast’s services.
SouthCoast-Boyko Funeral Home is planning to take care of Brenda Cropper, who did not die from her injuries on Wednesday, July 16, as the tenth victim of the Gabriel House fire. The Bristol County District Attorney’s Office reported the death Thursday, saying it was due to a miscommunication with a medical agency.
St. Mary’s Cathedral steps in to help
The Rev. David Frederici of St. Mary’s shared that the church will minister “to any family in need,” whether they are victims of Sunday’s “tragic fire,” he said, or of other circumstances.
“The Church teaches that burying the dead is one of the Corporal Works of Mercy and how we live the Lord’s command to love our neighbor,” Frederici said, adding that the church usually waives fees associated with funerals if it presents a financial burden to the families they serve.
This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Fall River funeral homes, church help Gabriel House victims’ families