The three Budzilo children, 1-year-old Jake, 3-year-old Nicholas and 5-year-old Christopher were trapped in a 2nd floor bedroom where the fire broke out. Their mother Debbie Proud, whose 7 months pregnant, was critically injured trying to rescue the children as was their 50-year-old grandfather, Eugene Budzilo. Both the mother and grandfather survived, but 3-year-old Nicholas died a day later. Tuesday afternoon, 1-year-old Jake also succumbed to his injuries.
"Bad enough for them to have to bury one, but to bury two? Two? No," said Cheryl Walizykowski, aunt.
The children's father and mother were too emotionally distraught to attend the vigil. Meanwhile the children's grandfather, who survived the fire, finally gathered enough strength to show up.
Budzilo, still wearing bandages on his right hand and arm, seem numbed as he was comforted by family and friends.
"Blaming himself, it's not his fault, he tried, he tried his best. He did what any grandfather would do. Get in there and get these kids out. The mother did, everybody tried. It was an accident," said Cheryl.
In the last 3 weeks, a number of organizations have donated money to help the family. Next week, a radio station is sponsoring a benefit for the surviving child, Christopher who family members say remains in a rehab facility and is making a remarkable turnaround.
"He knows that Nicholas was gone, so he went in to see Jake to say goodbye today," said Cheryl.
Funeral arrangements for Jake whose 2nd birthday would have been next month are still pending.