Latest news with #Mallowes
New York Post
16-07-2025
- General
- New York Post
Inferno at Mass. nursing home kills at least 9 — including devout Catholic grandma, Army sharpshooter
Gabriel House had seen better days. The 100-unit assisted-living facility that burned Sunday night, killing nine people so far, opened in 1999 in Fall River, Massachusetts. Some photos on its Facebook page show neat rooms but older-looking carpeting and furniture. Her granddaughter didn't like the assisted-living center, but 86-year-old Eleanor Willett wanted something that left her money to play the slots at a casino. She earned too much to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to afford a higher-priced assisted-living facility, Holly Mallowes told The Associated Press Tuesday. 15 Kyle Mazza-UNF News via CNP / MEGA Advertisement 15 AP 15 AP 'She said, 'I don't need much, but a roof over my head and someplace to put my sewing machine,'' Mallowes said. Advertisement Willett was the oldest to die. Here's what is known so far about the victims. Eleanor Willett 15 AP 15 AP A Massachusetts native, Willett spent more than 20 years as a secretary and even worked briefly as a cocktail waitress, her granddaughter said. Advertisement Her home was always a base for everyone in her family, Mallowes said. 'My mom worked a lot and Grammy's was always a place we called home,' said Mallowes, 45. 'We lived with her often. She was very strong. She outlived two husbands and raised five children. She was absolutely a joy.' Mallowes, a paralegal who lives in Dartmouth, described her grandmother as 'very religious' and a 'devout Catholic.' 15 AP Advertisement 15 Kyle Mazza-UNF News via CNP / MEGA 'She wanted to be somewhat independent,' Mallowes said of Willett's decision to move to Gabriel House in Fall River, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Boston. 'To leave her home alone all day, I was to afraid something might happen.' 15 AP 15 Zuma / 15 Kyle Mazza-UNF News via CNP / MEGA Kim Mackin Mackin, 71, was a violist who performed in Boston-area orchestras, according to her nephew, Austin Mackin. She was described in a statement from family members as 'gifted beyond words.' 15 AP Advertisement 'We will all miss Kimmy,' the statement read. 'Beyond being exceptionally kind, few knew that she was a brilliant musician.' Kim Mackin received a full scholarship to the Manhattan School of Music and after graduating, toured the world as first chair viola. 15 Kyle Mazza/NurPhoto/Shutterstock 15 Kyle Mazza/NurPhoto/Shutterstock Advertisement 15 Kyle Mazza-UNF News via CNP / MEGA Richard Rochon Breonna Cestodio described her 78-year-old uncle, Rochon, as 'a very quiet guy,' yet a 'great guy.' 'He kept to himself,' she told reporters. 'He was a sharpshooter in the Army. He loved getting visits from all of his nieces and nephews.' 15 AP Advertisement Rochon moved into Gabriel House about a year ago. Cestodio had little good to say about the facility, remarking that it always seemed hot inside the building. 'Every time you visited him, he was sweating,' she said. 'No air in the building. I never saw any workers, except in one closed-off section. I never saw any workers.'
Boston Globe
16-07-2025
- General
- Boston Globe
Family, friends remember Gabriel House fire victims as strong elders with a knack for storytelling
Eleanor Willett and her great-great grandson, Jamison, hug at Gabriel House Assisted Living Facility, just hours before a deadly fire struck the facility on Sunday, July 13. Holly Mallowes Eleanor Willett At 86, the oldest victim was known by her doctors as an anomaly — seemingly becoming healthier with age and retaining a sharp memory, Willett's granddaughter told the Globe on Tuesday. 'She was a fighter, her long term memory was on point,' Holly Mallowes of Dartmouth said. Advertisement Willett raised five children, two of whom had already passed away, according to Mallowes. The former longtime Wareham resident also survived two husbands, her granddaughter said. 'Anything she went through, any tragedy, she came back even stronger,' Mallowes, 45, said. In her late 40s, Willett earned a college degree to advance her career at the local health department, Mallowes said. 'She had been too busy raising the kids when she was younger, and she went back to college just for herself,' she said. Just hours before the fire on Sunday, Willett had enjoyed a visit from her 5-year-old great-great grandson, Jamison. 'She had lived such a long time in life, she had a lot of experience,' Mallowes said. Eleanor Willett (far right) stands at a family member's home. Holly Mallowes Willett came from a large, loving family, according to her daughter-in-law, Deborah Dixon. Advertisement 'She was a lovely lady, and that's all. She loved everybody, she was easy going. She'd do anything for anybody,' Dixon said in a brief phone interview. Willett had lived with Dixon and her husband — Willett's son — for about 20 years before moving to Gabriel House a little over a year ago. 'She made friends, and she enjoyed it,' Dixon said, referring to Gabriel House. 'They were good to her.' Richard Rochon 'He was a tough cookie,' Stephanie Johnson said of her uncle, 78, who was a veteran of the Vietnam War. " but he always made you laugh and smile, Her mother, Judy, was Rochon's sister, Johnson said. 'I know my mom is taking it pretty hard,' Johnson said. She and her family appreciated the work of first responders. 'I want to thank all of the firefighters and the ambulances and everybody who did show up to help,' Johnson said. 'It is unfortunate that it happened the way it happened.' Rui Albernaz, 64, one of the victims of the Fall River fire. Alda Albernaz Robert King and Kim Mackin Fall River resident Russell Silvia said he loved chatting with King and Mackin beneath a canopy that was often set up on the Gabriel House property. Silvia, 42, who works at the A&M Driving School, said residents considered him a connection to the outside world, like a 'little light that came by and said hello.' King, a Vietnam War veteran, shared stories of the conflict with an intrigued Silvia. He would would often complain about Advertisement He also said the 78-year-old was good at reading people's emotions and had a knack for using conversation to brighten their moods. 'If you weren't in the right mood, you could have a conversation with the man and get in the right mood,' Silvia said. Mackin, much more quiet, would greet Silvia by saying, 'I was just thinking about you.' The 71-year-old liked to give him gifts, including sweaters and recently, a brand new Boston Bruins cap with a Superman patch she'd attached. 'She was a good-hearted woman, she'd just come and sit and listen to my stories,' Silvia said. Besides King, a few other Gabriel House residents were Vietnam War veterans, Silvia sai. Silvia said King always wanted to raise awareness about the 'If it took nine people for the rest of those people to get saved, God works in mysterious ways,' Silvia said. Rui Albernaz , He was 64, one of five brothers. Their only sister, Alda Albernaz, and brother Robert looked up at the third floor of Gabriel House around 3 p.m. on Tuesday at the corner room where Rui lived for three years. 'It's just depressing looking at his room.' Robert said as he shook his head at the third floor walk up. 'Everybody still can't process all this. It's a lot to take in.' Rui loved to travel, dance, and never missed the chance to get his scratch tickets, the two said. Alda described him as a happy person who loved music. She said he was 'very good with numbers' like Raymond Babbitt in the movie 'Rain Man.' Advertisement 'He loved being around people,' Alda said. 'He was a good person, a very very outgoing person.' Alda worked at the facility about five years ago and said she had 'no complaints.' 'It was just a shock,' she said of hearing about Rui's death. 'I feel like I'm in a nightmare. I feel like it's a nightmare that I haven't woken up from yet.' Claire Thornton can be reached at
Winnipeg Free Press
15-07-2025
- General
- Winnipeg Free Press
Massachusetts assisted-living blaze kills a musician, secretary, and veteran Army sharpshooter
FALL RIVER, Mass. (AP) — Gabriel House had seen better days. The 100-unit assisted-living facility that burned Sunday night, killing nine people so far, opened in 1999. Some photos on its Facebook page show neat rooms but older-looking carpeting and furniture. Her granddaughter didn't like the assisted-living center, but 86-year-old Eleanor Willett wanted something that left her money to play the slots at a casino. She earned too much to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to afford a higher-priced assisted-living facility, Holly Mallowes told The Associated Press Tuesday. 'She said, 'I don't need much, but a roof over my head and someplace to put my sewing machine,'' Mallowes said. Willett was the oldest to die. Here's what we know so far about the victims. Eleanor Willett A Massachusetts native, Willett spent more than 20 years as a secretary and even worked briefly as a cocktail waitress, her granddaughter said. Her home was always a base for everyone in her family, Mallowes said. 'My mom worked a lot and Grammy's was always a place we called home,' said Mallowes, 45. 'We lived with her often. She was very strong. She outlived two husbands and raised five children. She was absolutely a joy.' Mallowes, a paralegal who lives in Dartmouth, described her grandmother as 'very religious' and a 'devout Catholic.' 'She wanted to be somewhat independent,' Mallowes said of Willett's decision to move to Gabriel House in Fall River, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Boston. 'To leave her home alone all day, I was to afraid something might happen.' 'As our grandparents and parents get older, we say 'I'll make it to go see them a different day' and you always put it off,' Mallowes said. 'See them while you can. Tomorrow is not promised.' Kim Mackin Makin, 71, was a violist who performed in Boston area orchestras, according to her nephew, Austin Mackin. She was described in a statement from family members as 'gifted beyond words.' 'We will all miss Kimmy,' the statement read. 'Beyond being exceptionally kind, few knew that she was a brilliant musician.' Kim Mackin received a full scholarship to the Manhattan School of Music and after graduating, toured the world as first chair viola. Wednesdays Columnist Jen Zoratti looks at what's next in arts, life and pop culture. Richard Rochon Breonna Cestodio described her 78-year-old uncle, Rochon, as 'a very quiet guy,' yet a 'great guy.' 'He kept to himself,' she told reporters. 'He was a sharpshooter in the Army. He loved getting visits from all of his nieces and nephews.' Rochon moved into Gabriel House about a year ago. Cestodio had little good to say about the facility, remarking that it always seemed hot inside the building. 'Every time you visited him, he was sweating,' she said. 'No air in the building. I never saw any workers, except in one closed-off section. I never saw any workers.'
