Fall River gathers in prayer and generous support for Gabriel House fire victims
'This, of course, is an epic situation, so we expect an epic turnout,' Christopher Silvia, owner of Christopher's Cafe in Fall River, said at the start of the fundraiser at the St. John's Athletic Club.
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Silvia joined forces with Boom Squad Radio, other local businesses and the nonprofit Firefighters Wives Association to organize the fundraiser that aimed to raise $40,000 on Friday night.
Tina Rogers, a resident whose family home burned down in 2007, said that she understood what the Gabriel House residents have gone through, and what it's like to lose everything to a fire.
'I'm here to pay it forward,' Rogers said.
A $20 ticket bought a meal from one of 47 participating restaurants and raffle tickets. All proceeds will go to survivors of the fire, Silvia said.
The Firefighter Wives Association has already raised $70,000 through a GoFundMe.
'We're there to help them get back on their feet,' said Sharron Furtado, president and co-founder of the association.
Christina Catelli, owner of Tequila Lime Cantina, said her restaurant donated gift cards and chicken fajitas.
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'This is a tragic thing that happened, and so anyway that we can help, we want to contribute,' Catelli said.
The shuttered assisted living facility, Gabriel House, where 9 residents died in a fire on Sunday, July 13.
Suzanne Kreiter/Globe Staff
Vanessa Garcia, co-president of the National Honor Society at Argosy Collegiate Charter High School in Fall River, was there to serve food.
She and other honor society members have been making thank you cards for the firefighters and 'cards of hope' to send to the survivors.
'We always believe that if you give to your community, it will return tenfold, so we really wanted to help,' Garcia said.
Holly Raposo, dean of early college programming and career development at Argosy Collegiate Charter School, said they plan to deliver the cards in the next week.
'It's so sad for so many reasons but Fall River really does rally, the immediate response is 'How can we help?'' Raposo said.
Survivors of the fire were applauded when EMT volunteers escorted them to their seats and served them their food.
Michael Nunes, originally from New Bedford, had only been at the Gabriel House for three weeks before the fire.
'I remember a lot of horror,' he said.
James Dixon, another survivor, said his room was at the end of the hallway next to a fire door which helped him exit.
'It was horrible,' Dixon recalled. 'The smoke was so bad, it was two feet in front of you.'
Michael Pimentel, another survivor, said he and Dixon are now staying at Fall River Healthcare.
'We're staying in the same room,' Pimentel said. 'He's my best friend,' he said of Dixon. 'He's my brother for life. I couldn't live without him.'
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They were friends before the fire but are more bonded now.
'I'm okay,' Pimentel said. 'It's a lot to process.'
A special dedication was made to the nine victims of the Gabriel House fire and honored first responders and survivors.
Barry Chin/Globe Staff
A mile and a half away at St. Anne Shrine, an estimated 100 people attended a 6:30 p.m. healing Mass.
Every other pew was intentionally vacant.
Father Edward A. Murphy read the names of eight of the survivors and asked for the nine lost lives to 'be with the lord.'
Friday's Mass also was the beginning of a nine day Novena in honor of
Jeff Montigny, president of the St. Anne's Shrine Preservation Society, said Friday's Mass was 'dedicated to those who lost their lives and who have been injured.'
'They've lost everything, so we're dedicating this to them,' he said in an interview.
The Novena Mass will be held every night through
July 26.
As the church lights dimmed, Murphy passed through the congregation, placing his hands on each person's head with a blessing.
Montigny estimated that over 100 people attended , but said visits to the church had been constant all week.
'There have been people coming by and saying extra prayers for the victims,' he said.
The Rev. Edward A. Murphy blessed congregants with Holy Water during a special Healing Mass Friday evening at Saint Anne Shrine in Fall River.
Barry Chin/Globe Staff
Camille Bugayong can be reached at
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Boston Globe
3 days ago
- Boston Globe
‘A family, dysfunctional, but a family.' Fall River fire survivors process the tragedy, as their next steps remain uncertain.
Sitting on a motorized scooter a block away from the living facility where he's currently residing, the double amputee's bright blue eyes shone as he recalled fond memories of the lives lost. Advertisement 'It was a family, dysfunctional, but a family,' Pimentel said. Survivors who made it out of the assisted living facility the night of July 13 are now scattered across the Fall River area and eastern Massachusetts, living in at least 10 living facilities identified so far by the Globe. Most are in and around Fall River, though one resident is staying at a living facility around 60 miles away in South Yarmouth. They are waiting to learn when they will get to retrieve their belongings — and where they will live next. As of this week, all of the displaced residents had been contacted and are in a case management system, Kimberly Smith, the executive director of United Way of Greater Fall River, said before a press conference Tuesday. Advertisement More than 75 percent of Gabriel House residents are enrolled in Medicaid, and chose Gabriel House because it charged less than a typical facility for private-paying patients. However, residents and family members have long complained about living conditions at the House, citing broken elevators, mice, and a lack of fire evacuation plans. The night of the fire, Pimentel said that he didn't see any emergency lights go off. He said there was 'too much smoke in the hallway' for him to leave his room. Quickly, he ripped his second-floor bedroom window 'off the hinges.' A fireman helped carry Pimentel down a ladder. Pimentel remembers watching his prosthetic leg fall off halfway down. Pimentel said he will be at Fall River HealthCare, another assisted living facility, for at least 30 days, but after that, his living accommodations are uncertain. He wants to stay in Fall River because he knows the neighborhood like the back of his hand. When he lived at Gabriel House, he went to the nearby convenience store, and he could visit his wife and his father's graves at the cemeteries. This late in life, he isn't prepared to start over. Officials said when his stay at Fall River HealthCare runs out, one of his options is to transfer to a facility in New Bedford. But he has never lived in New Bedford and doesn't know anyone there, he said. 'I don't know anything about New Bedford,' he said. 'I don't know where the DMV is. I don't know where the bus station is.' He wants to go to the River Falls Senior Living, an assisted living facility that is a fifteen-minute walk from Gabriel House, because of its proximity to his closest friend, Russell Silvia, and all places Pimentel is familiar with. Advertisement He knows Landmark at Fall River is 'expensive' but 'doesn't care,' saying he'd figure out how to make ends meet. 'It's close to everything I need,' he said. Pimentel said he has been leaning on his friend, Silvia, for help. Silvia helped organize the retrieval of his motorized scooter from Gabriel House last week. 'If it wasn't for me putting these sneakers on his feet, he'd still have the ones from the fire on,' Silvia said. In the fire's aftermath, residents are missing items, ranging from sentimental knick-knacks to daily necessities like hearing aids. There has been no official date or time set for residents to pick up their belongings, according to Ann O'Neil-Souza, chief of staff for Mayor Paul Coogan. If people need certain belongings, they should reach out to the mayor's office, she said. Donna Murphy, a former resident of Gabriel House who spent a rare evening away from the facility the night of the fire, has been staying with different family members as her family weighs more permanent options, according to her sister Nancy Jones. Jones said Murphy's granddaughter took a leave from work to care for Murphy, who has dementia and can't be left alone. 'My niece may have to make a decision to either take care of her grandmother, or we're going to have to put her somewhere,' Jones said. The family was never happy with Gabriel House, but it was the only option they could afford. Advertisement Murphy also had to be hospitalized after a panic attack caused by intense survivor's guilt while processing the incident, which injured and killed several of her friends. 'When she finally sat and thought about everything, it just all caught up,' Jones said. 'She was getting herself all worked up, talking about and losing her friends.' Like Murphy, many survivors have been mourning the deaths of the 10 residents, whom they called their friends and loved ones. Since the fire, there have been at least two funerals for the victims. Margaret Duddy, 69, was remembered on Tuesday, and Rui Albernaz, 64, was laid to rest Wednesday. Pimentel's friend Silvia made sure to borrow a van from a friend and drive residents to Albernaz's funeral. That morning, a hushed silence filled the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption ,as the Albernaz family watched Albernaz's casket get blessed. One of the four pallbearers looked up to the ceiling to avoid tears spilling down his face, and Albernaz's sister sobbed silently over the casket. The large Portuguese family, with many of Albernaz's siblings, cousins, and nieces and nephews, sat in the first two rows of the church. About 75 community members sat behind them listening as the priest described Albernaz as a 'man full of joy,' who loved to dance and play scratch tickets and who went by 'Rui, Roy, or Buddy.' At the funeral was Debbie Bigelow, 68, who dated Albernaz for six years. The two met at Gabriel House, and Bigelow 'had my eye on him for a while' before he 'finally came my way.' They'd planned to get married. Time would fly when the two talked, she said. Advertisement 'From the first time I saw him, he was so joyful,' she said. 'He didn't get into fights with other guys.' They played 'action games' together at the facility, like bean bag toss, to improve their mobility, and did arts and crafts. Bigelow said she is doing OK after the fire. Like Pimentel, she is staying at Fall River HealthCare for at least another week, and then, she doesn't know where she will be placed. Bigelow has family members who have been supporting her through the transition. 'I don't know,' Bigelow said about where she is going next. 'I don't know.' Ava Berger can be reached at
Boston Globe
19-07-2025
- Boston Globe
Fall River gathers in prayer and generous support for Gabriel House fire victims
As this South Coast city copes with the heartbreaking loss of life, and the recovery of nearly 30 people injured, the community came together to mourn and support each other. 'This, of course, is an epic situation, so we expect an epic turnout,' Christopher Silvia, owner of Christopher's Cafe in Fall River, said at the start of the fundraiser at the St. John's Athletic Club. Advertisement Silvia joined forces with Boom Squad Radio, other local businesses and the nonprofit Firefighters Wives Association to organize the fundraiser that aimed to raise $40,000 on Friday night. Tina Rogers, a resident whose family home burned down in 2007, said that she understood what the Gabriel House residents have gone through, and what it's like to lose everything to a fire. 'I'm here to pay it forward,' Rogers said. A $20 ticket bought a meal from one of 47 participating restaurants and raffle tickets. All proceeds will go to survivors of the fire, Silvia said. The Firefighter Wives Association has already raised $70,000 through a GoFundMe. 'We're there to help them get back on their feet,' said Sharron Furtado, president and co-founder of the association. Christina Catelli, owner of Tequila Lime Cantina, said her restaurant donated gift cards and chicken fajitas. Advertisement 'This is a tragic thing that happened, and so anyway that we can help, we want to contribute,' Catelli said. The shuttered assisted living facility, Gabriel House, where 9 residents died in a fire on Sunday, July 13. Suzanne Kreiter/Globe Staff Vanessa Garcia, co-president of the National Honor Society at Argosy Collegiate Charter High School in Fall River, was there to serve food. She and other honor society members have been making thank you cards for the firefighters and 'cards of hope' to send to the survivors. 'We always believe that if you give to your community, it will return tenfold, so we really wanted to help,' Garcia said. Holly Raposo, dean of early college programming and career development at Argosy Collegiate Charter School, said they plan to deliver the cards in the next week. 'It's so sad for so many reasons but Fall River really does rally, the immediate response is 'How can we help?'' Raposo said. Survivors of the fire were applauded when EMT volunteers escorted them to their seats and served them their food. Michael Nunes, originally from New Bedford, had only been at the Gabriel House for three weeks before the fire. 'I remember a lot of horror,' he said. James Dixon, another survivor, said his room was at the end of the hallway next to a fire door which helped him exit. 'It was horrible,' Dixon recalled. 'The smoke was so bad, it was two feet in front of you.' Michael Pimentel, another survivor, said he and Dixon are now staying at Fall River Healthcare. 'We're staying in the same room,' Pimentel said. 'He's my best friend,' he said of Dixon. 'He's my brother for life. I couldn't live without him.' Advertisement They were friends before the fire but are more bonded now. 'I'm okay,' Pimentel said. 'It's a lot to process.' A special dedication was made to the nine victims of the Gabriel House fire and honored first responders and survivors. Barry Chin/Globe Staff A mile and a half away at St. Anne Shrine, an estimated 100 people attended a 6:30 p.m. healing Mass. Every other pew was intentionally vacant. Father Edward A. Murphy read the names of eight of the survivors and asked for the nine lost lives to 'be with the lord.' Friday's Mass also was the beginning of a nine day Novena in honor of Jeff Montigny, president of the St. Anne's Shrine Preservation Society, said Friday's Mass was 'dedicated to those who lost their lives and who have been injured.' 'They've lost everything, so we're dedicating this to them,' he said in an interview. The Novena Mass will be held every night through July 26. As the church lights dimmed, Murphy passed through the congregation, placing his hands on each person's head with a blessing. Montigny estimated that over 100 people attended , but said visits to the church had been constant all week. 'There have been people coming by and saying extra prayers for the victims,' he said. The Rev. Edward A. Murphy blessed congregants with Holy Water during a special Healing Mass Friday evening at Saint Anne Shrine in Fall River. Barry Chin/Globe Staff Camille Bugayong can be reached at
Yahoo
18-07-2025
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81-year-old lives in car parked outside of dilapidated South Memphis home
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — An 81-year-old South Memphis woman has fallen on hard times and needs help. One of her neighbors called WREG to inform us that the woman was living in her car in the driveway of her dilapidated home. Christine Marshall, 81, is hoping people can come together and help her out. If you drive along South Parkway West in South Memphis, you will see a dilapidated blue house with a Hyundai sedan in the driveway, that's where you'll find Marshall, who neighbors call, 'Mama.' She is non-verbal and communicates with a pen and notepad. She wrote to WREG that she has throat cancer. Mama told WREG she had lived in the home for 30 years, until a neighbor's tree that extended over her roof for years, later collapsed, leaving permanent damage to her home. Insurance will not fix it, and the home is now unlivable, so Mama has slept in her car for the last three years. Darron Rivers, who lives in the neighborhood and gives Mama water bottles and ice cubes to stay cool, says this can't go on. 'This don't make no sense, the tree must have fell on it, and didn't nobody do nothing but put this rag on top, cause last year when I looked at it during the winter, it doesn't make sense, it doesn't make sense,' said Darron Rivers, neighbor. 'And it's hot out here, and her house is falling in, she's sleeping in her car, ain't nobody around here paying her no attention, you've got four churches over here that does what? Nothing!' said Rivers. A GoFundMe has been set up to help Christine Marshall. Friday, Christine Marshall's son, who set up the GoFundMe account, posted the following update: 'I want to thank the city of Memphis and the people from out of state for putting their arm around me and showing that they have love for me. I didn't realize so many people cared. When you do right by people right follows you everywhere you go and I tried to do that all my life thank you and God bless you.' Antoine Hardin Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
