Five Family Members Killed In Lowell Fire Laid To Rest
LOWELL (CBS) - Five of the seven victims of the recent Branch Avenue fire in Lowell were laid to rest on Saturday.
The day began with a special service for Torn Sak, his wife Ellen Vuong and three of their five children -- Anthony, Ryan and Sayuri at the Glory Buddhist Temple.
They were among those killed in the fire that's being blamed on an electrical failure between the second and third floors.
"Lowell is a big city but at the same time when things like this happen, it becomes small," said Bopha Malone of the Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association.
The day began with a Catholic service for Vuong at the request of her family.
Prayers followed with a monk giving the deceased a final blessing.
"In my sense, I think [the monks] were telling the spirits that it's okay, you can go now. That's it's safe; that we're here for you and the family is here to support you," said Sovanna Pouv of the Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association
Paul Ratha Yem, a member of the Cambodian community, hoped the victims had moved on to a "better life."
"We believe in every incarnation and hopefully they will be in a better life- less suffering than what they went through in this life."
The family is being laid to rest at the Westlawn Cemetery.
Two of the couple's children survived the fire.
Online: Donate To Lowell Fire Victims Fund
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Mark Katic reports
Five Lowell Fire Victims Laid To Rest
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