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A Family With Jamaican Roots Mourns 5 Relatives Killed in a Bronx Fire A Family With Jamaican Roots Mourns 5 Relatives Killed in a Bronx Fire
(35 minutes later)
Five open coffins at a funeral home in Upper Manhattan held Ambrozine Stewart’s lost treasures.Five open coffins at a funeral home in Upper Manhattan held Ambrozine Stewart’s lost treasures.
In the tiniest one, on the left, was her granddaughter Kylie Francis, 2. Beside the girl was the sister from whom she was inseparable, Kelesha, 7. In the middle, the girls’ mother, Karen Stewart-Francis, 37, was the only one dressed in black, her favorite color to wear. To the right lay her husband, Holt Francis, 27, and between them, their niece, Shawntay Young, 19.In the tiniest one, on the left, was her granddaughter Kylie Francis, 2. Beside the girl was the sister from whom she was inseparable, Kelesha, 7. In the middle, the girls’ mother, Karen Stewart-Francis, 37, was the only one dressed in black, her favorite color to wear. To the right lay her husband, Holt Francis, 27, and between them, their niece, Shawntay Young, 19.
They were among 13 people killed last month in the deadliest fire in New York City in nearly three decades.They were among 13 people killed last month in the deadliest fire in New York City in nearly three decades.
At a wake before the funeral for the five was held Monday at the R. G. Ortiz Funeral Home in Washington Heights, Ms. Stewart, 69, knelt before each coffin, faintly whispering her goodbyes. Leaning over Kylie, she moved aside the thin white veil covering her granddaughter’s face and put her hands on top of the girl’s. At a viewing before the funeral for the five was held Monday at the R. G. Ortiz Funeral Home in Washington Heights, Ms. Stewart, 69, knelt before each coffin, faintly whispering her goodbyes. Leaning over Kylie, she moved aside the thin white veil covering her granddaughter’s face and put her hands on top of the girl’s.
“Hey, baby girl,” she said as she moved closer. “I’m so, so sorry, baby girl. It seems like the Lord didn’t want you with me, baby girl. He wanted you with him, baby girl.”“Hey, baby girl,” she said as she moved closer. “I’m so, so sorry, baby girl. It seems like the Lord didn’t want you with me, baby girl. He wanted you with him, baby girl.”
The Francis clan and Ms. Young were part of the Stewart family from Jamaica, a clan of more than a dozen that had become a familiar presence in a Bronx neighborhood filled with immigrants. They looked after each other for years as babysitters, hairdressers, cooks and whatever else they needed, in the century-old brick apartment building at 2363 Prospect Avenue in Belmont, just as their family had done back in Jamaica.The Francis clan and Ms. Young were part of the Stewart family from Jamaica, a clan of more than a dozen that had become a familiar presence in a Bronx neighborhood filled with immigrants. They looked after each other for years as babysitters, hairdressers, cooks and whatever else they needed, in the century-old brick apartment building at 2363 Prospect Avenue in Belmont, just as their family had done back in Jamaica.
But the world the Stewarts made for themselves here was shattered on Dec. 28, when a fire, which was started by a 3-year-old boy playing with a stove, raced through the brown-brick building. Of the five families who lost loved ones, by count, the Stewarts lost the most.But the world the Stewarts made for themselves here was shattered on Dec. 28, when a fire, which was started by a 3-year-old boy playing with a stove, raced through the brown-brick building. Of the five families who lost loved ones, by count, the Stewarts lost the most.
The coffins inside the funeral home proved too much to bear for the relatives who filed in on Monday under an ominous sky. Loud cries and deep moans pierced the chill inside Chapel A, as relatives wondered how something so unfathomable could possibly be real.The coffins inside the funeral home proved too much to bear for the relatives who filed in on Monday under an ominous sky. Loud cries and deep moans pierced the chill inside Chapel A, as relatives wondered how something so unfathomable could possibly be real.
“God, what my children does do that you just wipe out the page, nothing left, not even a line?” Ms. Stewart pleaded. “Jesus, where do I go from here?”“God, what my children does do that you just wipe out the page, nothing left, not even a line?” Ms. Stewart pleaded. “Jesus, where do I go from here?”
In the vestibule, her daughter Shevan Stewart, who lived on the first floor of the building, fainted, then woke up shouting, “The fire, the fire, the fire!”In the vestibule, her daughter Shevan Stewart, who lived on the first floor of the building, fainted, then woke up shouting, “The fire, the fire, the fire!”
Her brother Rudolph said she was having flashbacks: “She tried to save them. She’s taking it very hard.”Her brother Rudolph said she was having flashbacks: “She tried to save them. She’s taking it very hard.”
The funeral was a ritual that other families — the Donkors, the Sarkodies, the Mensahs — will endure over the coming weeks as they say goodbye to those who died in the fire. A funeral was held Sunday for the youngest victim of the fire, 7-month-old Amora Batiz, and her grandmother, Maria Batiz, 65.The funeral was a ritual that other families — the Donkors, the Sarkodies, the Mensahs — will endure over the coming weeks as they say goodbye to those who died in the fire. A funeral was held Sunday for the youngest victim of the fire, 7-month-old Amora Batiz, and her grandmother, Maria Batiz, 65.
Andrene Paul, Ms. Stewart-Francis’s sister, set up a GoFundMe page to send the bodies back to Jamaica for burial. Ms. Stewart-Francis wanted to be buried with her father, with whom she was “joined at the hip,” Ms. Paul said.Andrene Paul, Ms. Stewart-Francis’s sister, set up a GoFundMe page to send the bodies back to Jamaica for burial. Ms. Stewart-Francis wanted to be buried with her father, with whom she was “joined at the hip,” Ms. Paul said.
For the Stewarts, the outcome could have been even worse: They occupied five units in the Prospect Avenue building and everyone was home when the fire started.For the Stewarts, the outcome could have been even worse: They occupied five units in the Prospect Avenue building and everyone was home when the fire started.
Ms. Young, who lived on the basement floor with her parents, had been visiting her aunt Karen’s fifth-floor apartment. The pair were known as the family divas, stylish and never ones to miss a nail appointment.Ms. Young, who lived on the basement floor with her parents, had been visiting her aunt Karen’s fifth-floor apartment. The pair were known as the family divas, stylish and never ones to miss a nail appointment.
They died with Kelesha and Kylie after being overcome by smoke in the bathroom where they sought shelter. Mr. Francis died last week after he was taken off life support.They died with Kelesha and Kylie after being overcome by smoke in the bathroom where they sought shelter. Mr. Francis died last week after he was taken off life support.
Ms. Young was “like a model,” Ms. Paul, her aunt, said, miming the way her niece walked, with a sassy swish in her hips. And Ms. Stewart-Francis, she said, behaved as if she were just as young as their niece.Ms. Young was “like a model,” Ms. Paul, her aunt, said, miming the way her niece walked, with a sassy swish in her hips. And Ms. Stewart-Francis, she said, behaved as if she were just as young as their niece.
“She’s such a vibrant person,” Ms. Paul said.“She’s such a vibrant person,” Ms. Paul said.
Kelesha, a student at P.S. 205 Fiorello LaGuardia in the Bronx “enjoyed playing make believe” and was “sweet and obedient,” according to an obituary. Kylie liked to make faces and was called to “the ‘happy feet’ baby that loved to shine.”Kelesha, a student at P.S. 205 Fiorello LaGuardia in the Bronx “enjoyed playing make believe” and was “sweet and obedient,” according to an obituary. Kylie liked to make faces and was called to “the ‘happy feet’ baby that loved to shine.”
Ms. Stewart-Francis was the youngest of her parents’ 13 children. Six brothers and four sisters remain.Ms. Stewart-Francis was the youngest of her parents’ 13 children. Six brothers and four sisters remain.
She was born in Spanish Town, Jamaica, and immigrated to the United States with her father, Joseph, in 1998. Her mother had left for the United States in the 1980s, and more family followed in the 2000s.She was born in Spanish Town, Jamaica, and immigrated to the United States with her father, Joseph, in 1998. Her mother had left for the United States in the 1980s, and more family followed in the 2000s.
In recent years until her death, she worked as a housekeeper for a hotel in Manhattan, near the United Nations, Ms. Paul, her sister, said.In recent years until her death, she worked as a housekeeper for a hotel in Manhattan, near the United Nations, Ms. Paul, her sister, said.
Ms. Stewart-Francis met her husband while on vacation in Jamaica in 2012, according to her sister. Sparks flew and Mr. Francis later proposed to her.Ms. Stewart-Francis met her husband while on vacation in Jamaica in 2012, according to her sister. Sparks flew and Mr. Francis later proposed to her.
“She came to us and said, ‘Guess what, I’m gonna get married,’” Ms. Paul said. “She was so excited.”“She came to us and said, ‘Guess what, I’m gonna get married,’” Ms. Paul said. “She was so excited.”
Kylie was born Sept. 26, 2015, and early the following year Mr. Francis and Kelesha, his daughter from a previous relationship, joined them in the Bronx after receiving a spousal visa. The couple married in May, Ms. Paul said.Kylie was born Sept. 26, 2015, and early the following year Mr. Francis and Kelesha, his daughter from a previous relationship, joined them in the Bronx after receiving a spousal visa. The couple married in May, Ms. Paul said.
Mr. Francis found work hard to come by in Jamaica, his brother said, and he believed he would have better prospects in the United States — and at least he would be with his young family. His departure was bittersweet for his family, which included eight other brothers and eight sisters, his twin brother said.Mr. Francis found work hard to come by in Jamaica, his brother said, and he believed he would have better prospects in the United States — and at least he would be with his young family. His departure was bittersweet for his family, which included eight other brothers and eight sisters, his twin brother said.
“We understood that he was going away for a better life, but we also didn’t want him to leave us,” Iholt Francis said. “It was a mixed feeling.”“We understood that he was going away for a better life, but we also didn’t want him to leave us,” Iholt Francis said. “It was a mixed feeling.”
A few weeks before he died, Mr. Francis started a job sorting recyclables at Action Environmental Services, a waste-management company in the Bronx. But it was a means to an end, his brother said. Holt was saving money to go to vocational school to become an electrician.A few weeks before he died, Mr. Francis started a job sorting recyclables at Action Environmental Services, a waste-management company in the Bronx. But it was a means to an end, his brother said. Holt was saving money to go to vocational school to become an electrician.
“He’s a hands-on person, so anything that involves using hands, building stuff, that’s what he was good at,” Iholt Francis said.“He’s a hands-on person, so anything that involves using hands, building stuff, that’s what he was good at,” Iholt Francis said.
During the funeral, he paid tribute to his brother and said that the loss left him struggling with suicidal thoughts.During the funeral, he paid tribute to his brother and said that the loss left him struggling with suicidal thoughts.
Mourners in the crowd pleaded, “There is hope, brother,” and “Mercy.”Mourners in the crowd pleaded, “There is hope, brother,” and “Mercy.”
On Thursday, he went to Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx to give doctors permission to let his brother, who had been declared brain dead, die. But before they took him off life support, Mr. Francis said he took a few moments alone with his twin.On Thursday, he went to Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx to give doctors permission to let his brother, who had been declared brain dead, die. But before they took him off life support, Mr. Francis said he took a few moments alone with his twin.
“I sat there,” Iholt Francis said. “I held his hand. I told him I loved him. Kissed him. And in that moment I just wished that it would be enough, that it would be the miracle that he needed to come back to this world. But I don’t think that he could have survived knowing his family had left this world.”“I sat there,” Iholt Francis said. “I held his hand. I told him I loved him. Kissed him. And in that moment I just wished that it would be enough, that it would be the miracle that he needed to come back to this world. But I don’t think that he could have survived knowing his family had left this world.”