Funeral held for Jacqueline Montanaro, 6-year-old daughter killed in Hazlet, N.J. house fire
HOLMDEL, N.J. -- Family and friends on Friday said their final goodbyes to a mother and daughter who died in a New Jersey house fire.
Jacqueline Montanaro ran back inside her family's burning home to try and save her 6-year-old daughter Madelyn, but both were killed in the fire on Jan. 13 in Hazlet.
Eight-year-old Elena Montanaro clutched a stuffed animal and watched her father help carry her little sister's casket. Next, her mother's flag-drapped casket was taken inside St. Benedict's Church.
Will Montanaro spoke and paid tribute to the wife and daughter he lost.
"She did everything with dedication, and strength, and perseverance. She knew what she had to do and she knew how to get it done, and I knew that was the woman for me. She was always there for me and our family," said Montanaro.
Montanaro's wife, a proud U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer, lost her life trying to save Madelyn. He said she ran back into their burning home after realizing their youngest daughter didn't escape with them.
At the funeral, he described Madelyn as selfless and funny.
"Maddie was smart, strong, spunky, very witty, quick with an answer, very quick. Quick to make a joke, quick to make us laugh," said Montanaro. "For those who have met Madelyn and had not met her yet, you would know that if you were with her for five minutes, she would be in your heart forever."
Despite the pain, Montanaro promised to be there for his surviving daughter, Elena.
"You were first to us. You're always first to me, and I am going to always, always be there for you," he said.
"Will was amazing, he said such great words. I don't know how he kept himself together," said Liz Brister, a family friend.
Montanaro told friends and family his strength comes from them because he knows they're grieving too.
The family's dog, Duchess, also died in the fire.
