Nicolas Fernandes
nj.com
(TNS)
Hundreds of mourners gathered at a park in Hazlet Tuesday night for a candlelit vigil to honor the mother and daughter who died in a house fire last week.
The fire broke out on the first floor of the Montanaro family’s township home Friday around midnight, officials said. Jacqueline Montanaro, 39, and and her daughter, Madelyn Montanaro, 6, were both killed in the blaze.
The Montanaro family gathered at the gazebo at Veteran’s Memorial Park and were joined by Mayor Michael Sachs, township police, boy scouts and hundreds of people from the community.
Eulogies were read by multiple family members as well as the mayor before the candles were lit. Photos of Jacqueline and Madelyn were on display on easels.
Authorities said Jacqueline, her husband William and their 8-year-old daughter were able to escape through thick smoke on the night of the fire, but Madelyn was trapped inside.
The Montanaro parents tried to rush back into the house and Jacqueline pushed through the smoke back into the home, William said in a statement issued by his brother, Domenico Montanaro, a reporter for NPR, who has been handling communications for the family.
Jacqueline and Madelyn were taken to nearby hospitals and were both pronounced dead after prolonged efforts to save their lives, Montanaro said on Sunday.
The family’s dog, a golden retriever-poodle mix named Duchess, was also killed in the blaze. Hound Hunters, a company hired to search for her, announced her death after volunteers canvassed the neighborhood for the dog over the weekend.
It remains unclear what caused the fire, but the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office said it did not appear suspicious.
©2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit nj.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
