A New Jersey mother passed away in a house fire after rushing back into the house in an attempt to save her youngest daughter.
At around 12:30 AM on Saturday, January 14th, a fire began in the Montanaro home in Hazlet, NJ. William Montanaro, his wife, Jackie, and their 8-year-old daughter Elena, all made it out of the house.
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But Youngest Daughter Madelyn, 6, Did Not.
After realizing that Madelyn was still in the house, both William and Jackie rushed back in.
However, Jackie Would Not Make It Back Out Alive.
In addition, Madelyn was not able to make it out of the fire. Both the mother and daughter passed away.
William Called His Late Wife A Hero.
Jackie, who was 40 years old, worked as a Customs and Border Protection officer.
William Released A Statement, Which Was Picked Up By Local News.
“I am heartbroken. I have lost the love of my life – my beautiful wife, Jackie – and my sweet, loving, spunky little girl, Madelyn,” he said, according to WABC .
He Further Explained How The Two Parents Rushed Back Into The House For Madelyn.
William explained how he was impeded by the amount of smoke in the house and was unable to continue.
But Jackie Continued On ‘Without Hesitation.’
According to William, “Jackie then charged in with a mother’s love and the courage of a police officer fueling her attempt to save our daughter.”
In Addition To The Mother And Daughter, The Family Lost A Dog.
A Goldendoodle named Duchess, who belonged to the Montanaro family, was also lost in the fire.
William Included Her In His Statement.
“We are extremely devastated Duchess is no longer with us, but we must remember she is now at rest alongside Jackie and Madelyn,” the statement continued.
In Spite Of The Tragedy, The Family Has Received A Ton Of Support.
The Montanaro family has received a great deal of support from their community.
A GoFundMe Was Made In Their Name.
As of writing, the GoFundMe has raised more than $300,000 in order to help the surviving members of the family.
The Support Has Come From Thousands Of People.
So far, over 4000 people have donated to the GoFundMe, showing that support for the Montanaro family is coming from far and wide.
So Far, It Seems That The Fire Was A Tragic Accident.
According to the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, foul play is not suspected.
Arrangements For Jackie And Madelyn Have Already Been Made.
Both the viewing and funeral arrangements for the mother and daughter have been finalized.
The Funeral Will Be Held This Week.
Viewings will be held on Wednesday and Thursday at the Holmdel Funeral Home. Meanwhile, the funeral is scheduled for Friday at 10 AM at St. Benedict R.C. Church, also in Holmdel.
h/t New York Post
