POTTSVILLE - Kelly Brown spoke of her love for her family at a celebration of life memorial service Friday at the Life Centre Foursquare Gospel Church in Pottsville.
"I know my kids are angels. I know my sister is up there taking care of them," she said.
She said her husband, Eric Brown, 31, was her "soulmate."
"I'll never forget all the times we shared. All the precious moments we had," Brown said.
Family, friends and members of the community came to show support for Kelly and to share in the lives of those who died as a result of the house fire at 235 Pierce St. in the city late Sunday.
Eric Brown, 31, Joy Brown, 8, Jeremiah Brown, 7, Emily Brown, 3, Elijah Brown, 2, and Kristina Thomas, 23, Kelly's sister, all perished in the fire.
Kelly was at a neighbor's home doing laundry. She tried to help her family but was unsuccessful.
The Rev. David Poissant conducted the 4:30 p.m. service that lasted about 25 minutes. A viewing was held starting at 3:30 p.m.
The song "Amazing Grace" filled the air while pictures of the family were displayed on TVs during the viewing.
"What words can I say to comfort you, Kelly?" Poissant said during the service.
He admitted it was difficult to find the words to say.
The community knew of the love she had for her family and responded with applause.
"Not only do these people know that, but your family knows that," he said.
Several scriptures were read during the service. Before Kelly spoke, a woman talked of Jeremiah.
"Everyone that knew Jeremiah feels the loss of him," she said.
Poissant said the children are in a better place.
"God has taken them and the reason he's taken them I don't know. I wish I could tell you why. I have no idea. But I know they're in a better place," he said.
"Your love will last forever," he said of her love for her family.
He said her family would want to be remembered but want her to move forward with her life.
At the conclusion of the service, those attending could hug Kelly. Many did so.
Outside, Peter Simmons, of Pottsville, said he knew Jeremiah. He said the boy was his "inspiration."
He had medical issues, he said, but the boy was not without a smile on his face.
"It's sad that he's gone, but he's in a better place," Simmons said.
Kelly visited her former home Friday afternoon before the service.
She said she misses her family more than words can express.
"My husband was my best friend for 12 years of my life. My children were my everything," she said.
At times, Kelly fought back tears.
Of her children, she said, "I raised my children to have morals and respect."
She is thankful for the support of the community's support.
"I appreciate the community for helping me as much as they could," Kelly said.
She did address the lack of smoke detectors in the home.
"The smoke detectors should have been installed," she said, adding her husband, Eric, had procrastinated in doing so.
"I never thought in a million years it would happen to my family," she said of the fire.
She is trying to look forward in her life while dealing with the tragedy.
"I plan to get my GED," she said, adding she would like to go to cosmetology school.
She is moving today to Washington state where she was born and moving in with her aunt, Jamie Hall, 36.
Hall said she is also appreciative of the efforts of the community.
Fire Chief Todd March said at the scene Friday that Brown was at the house to try and salvage some items.
He said she found some photos.
A cause for the fire has not been determined.
"It's going to be a little while yet," March said.
He did say the home had no insurance. "It's his (Eric's) mother, (Tina Brown) that owns it. She lives out in California somewhere," March said.
He does not have a phone number for her.
"Someone is going to have to take it down, but the city doesn't have the money," he said of the demolition of the house.
Smoke inhalation
The Schuylkill County deputy coroner has released the cause of death for the children.
The four children died of "asphyxiation due to carbon monoxide poisoning and smoke inhalation," Deputy Corner Scott Clews said. County Coroner Dr. David Moylan ruled the manner of death accidental, he said.
The cause of death of Eric Brown and Kristina Thomas is pending the results of a toxicology test done during a virtual autopsy after the fire, Clews said.
The community continues to reach out to remember the lives of those who died.
A fundraiser is scheduled for June 9 at the Humane Fire Co., Pottsville, Money raised will go for a bench at the Bunker Hill playground near the home of the family.
(Times-Shamrock writer Frank Andruscavage contributed to this report.)