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**Quick$bux** · 10-21-2008, 08:03 PM

NY1

Updated 10:59 AM

Victims Of Fatal Chelsea Fire Laid To Rest

It was a tearful farewell to the Manhattan family killed in an apartment fire earlier this month.

Grieving relatives and friends gathered at Saint Elizabeth's Church in Washington Heights Monday morning to say their final goodbyes to members of the Joa-Balbuena family.

Five white caskets carried the bodies of Delkis Balbuena, 34, her 10-year-old son, Jonzan, and her three daughters, eight-year-old Nanny, three-year-old Bet-El, and 15-month old Ruth.

All of them died after becoming trapped inside their burning apartment at the Robert Fulton Houses in Chelsea on October 11th.

"It was painful, and it is painful, and I know a lot of people in the community are in pain, especially going to the funeral and seeing five coffins," said one mourner.

"The sister is like now she doesn't have a sister to talk to and call anymore; she used to talk to her everyday," said another. "She used to spend time with her. They were always together, now they feel they don't have that sister anymore, who are they going to call?"

Fire officials believe it was accidentally sparked by one of the children playing with matches.

Community advocates say the deaths could have been prevented.

"We need to be educating families that smoke detectors are necessary," said Awila Cordero. "We need to tell them when to check it, when to change the batteries. All this information, if people have it, could have prevented it."

Funeral services were held this weekend for the children's father, Maschay Joa Valdez, 40, who was visting when the fire started.

Valdez's sister, Lily Joa, says although her brother was no longer living with the family, she wished he could have been buried with his children.

"My father wanted to pay for the funeral for all of them, but the family from the mother side didn't want them to do it all together," said Joa.

Copyright © 2008 NY1 News. All rights reserved.

10-21-2008, 08:03 PM	#9
Quick$bux Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 571 Senior Member	NY1 Updated 10:59 AM Victims Of Fatal Chelsea Fire Laid To Rest It was a tearful farewell to the Manhattan family killed in an apartment fire earlier this month. Grieving relatives and friends gathered at Saint Elizabeth's Church in Washington Heights Monday morning to say their final goodbyes to members of the Joa-Balbuena family. Five white caskets carried the bodies of Delkis Balbuena, 34, her 10-year-old son, Jonzan, and her three daughters, eight-year-old Nanny, three-year-old Bet-El, and 15-month old Ruth. All of them died after becoming trapped inside their burning apartment at the Robert Fulton Houses in Chelsea on October 11th. "It was painful, and it is painful, and I know a lot of people in the community are in pain, especially going to the funeral and seeing five coffins," said one mourner. "The sister is like now she doesn't have a sister to talk to and call anymore; she used to talk to her everyday," said another. "She used to spend time with her. They were always together, now they feel they don't have that sister anymore, who are they going to call?" Fire officials believe it was accidentally sparked by one of the children playing with matches. Community advocates say the deaths could have been prevented. "We need to be educating families that smoke detectors are necessary," said Awila Cordero. "We need to tell them when to check it, when to change the batteries. All this information, if people have it, could have prevented it." Funeral services were held this weekend for the children's father, Maschay Joa Valdez, 40, who was visting when the fire started. Valdez's sister, Lily Joa, says although her brother was no longer living with the family, she wished he could have been buried with his children. "My father wanted to pay for the funeral for all of them, but the family from the mother side didn't want them to do it all together," said Joa. Copyright © 2008 NY1 News. All rights reserved.
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