Hazlet mourns mother and daughter who perished in home blaze
HAZLET – More than $140,000 has been raised for the family of Jacqueline Montanaro and her daughter, Madelyn, who perished Saturday from injuries suffered in house fire that remains under investigation.
Condolences and support for William Montanaro and the couple’s surviving daughter, Elena, have been pouring in online since the fire occurred at the family home on Brookside Avenue early Friday.
Both victims initially survived the blaze, but died on Saturday, according to a GoFundMe.com page set up by Customs United Service Alliance and NTEU 161. Ms. Montanaro, who worked as a supervisory customs and border protection officer, was a member of the organization.
“We cannot express in words how tragic the loss of this amazing supervisor, colleague, friend, mom and hero is to our community,” a statement on the page said. “Jackie’s ability to get any job done at work was only second to her love and devotion to her family at home.”
Hazlet Police also posted a message on their Facebook page, declaring, “As the Hazlet community tries to wrap ours heads around such a tragic event, please keep the Montanaro family in your thoughts and help support them if you can.”
The Police page is directing supporters to donate to the GoFundMe.com site as well as the alumni disaster fund of the Monmouth County Council of the Boy Scouts, where Mr. Montanaro is employed.
Ms. Montanaro and Madelyn were reportedly trapped inside the home during the fire, which also injured a firefighter, according to the Monmouth County Sherriff’s Office.
The fire gutted one side of the two-story home and burned through the roof of the other side of the sprawling residence. It also charred a sport-utility vehicle parked in the driveway.
“Although we do not believe the fire is suspicious in nature, the fire is under active investigation,’’ Christopher Swendeman, spokesman for the prosecutor’s office, said Saturday.
Officials had no updates on the investigation as of Sunday.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: GoFundMe aids family of Jacqueline Montanaro, killed in Hazlet NJ fire
