Tiny coffins, flood of tears at blaze rites
FIVE OF the 13 victims of a horrific Bronx blaze were laid to rest Monday as hundreds gathered at a Washington Heights funeral home to mourn the family.
Arranged by size and age, five open caskets trimmed in satin held two little girls, their parents and a niece, all killed in the Dec. 28 fire.
Sisters Kylie Francis, 2, and Kalesha Francis, 7, wore white gowns in their tiny white coffins. Their father, Holt Francis, 27, lay next to his wife, Karen Stewart Francis, 37, and her niece Shawntay Young, 19.
“The whole family, even the baby, it’s devastating,” said Andrene Paul, the girls’ aunt. “We’re going to take them back to Jamaica. They died together and they’re going to rest together.”
Hundreds came to mourn and about 50 people rushed to the caskets in the R.G. Ortiz Funeral Home on Broadway near W. 191st St. when the doors opened.
Stewart Francis’ sister collapsed from grief and had to be carried from the room.
“My sister, my babies! I can’t believe what my eyes are seeing,” wailed Shevan Stewart when she saw the bodies of Stewart Francis and her nieces. Young’s mother had a similar reaction. “Oh, my God, my family!” Elaine Stewart Williams cried out, before collapsing.
The family died in a blaze started by a 3-year-old boy playing with a stove, officials said.
Francis’ devastated twin brother, Iholt, traveled from Jamaica to take his brother off life support. “I don’t believe he could have survived knowing his family had gone from this world,” Iholt said.
Services were held Sunday for the youngest victim, Amora Batiz, 7 months, and her grandmother, Maria Batiz, 65.