Roxbury grieves for family lost in murder-suicide: 'We are leaning on our faith'

Kyle Morel, New Jersey Herald
·3 min read
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The Roxbury community continued to grieve Thursday for the mother and teenage son killed as part of a murder-suicide this week, with plans for prayer services and a Friday night fundraiser to give students a "positive way" to respond to the tragedy.

Kellie Ventricelli, 58, and her 15-year-old son Anthony were remembered fondly following their deaths in what Morris County Prosecutor Robert Carroll called a "tragic murder-suicide brought on by domestic violence." Authorities believe Peter Ventricelli, 57, shot and killed his wife and son in their home on Justine Place before killing himself early Tuesday morning.

Hillside Preschool, the Christian school where Kellie Ventricelli worked, mourned her loss in a Facebook post Wednesday night. "Miss Kellie," as she was known by the children, was a teaching assistant in the program for 2½-year-olds, the youngest students in the school.

"She was an integral part of our Hillside family and is so very loved by the children, families and staff here at the school," the post read. "Her smile, laughter, fun fingernails and jewelry always lit up the room."

A neighbor left flowers on the front lawn of the Succasunna home in which three dead bodies were found.
A neighbor left flowers on the front lawn of the Succasunna home in which three dead bodies were found.

"We are leaning on our faith and trusting that God will somehow use this for His good, even though we can't see it right now," the post concluded.

The Hillside Lutheran Brethren Church, connected to the preschool, released its own statement: "To say that this news is a shock is a great understatement," it read.

"Few words exist to adequately express how we feel in unimaginable moments such as this," Scott Dunsmore, the chairman of the church congregation, said in the statement. "We share a deep sadness for the preschool staff and faculty as they grieve the loss of Kellie even while continuing with their work in teaching the young students in the school."

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Roxbury High School, where Anthony Ventricelli was a student, honored the family by changing its spirit day schedule for Rox-THON, the school's annual weeklong fundraiser for pediatric cancer research.

The event's Facebook page asked those in the school to wear blue and gold, Roxbury's traditional colors, on Wednesday and all white on Thursday "in support of the Roxbury community." Students and faculty were urged to wear a Rox-THON shirt or Roxbury gear on Friday.

The week of fundraising culminates every year with a Rox-THON event Friday night at the high school. Organizers decided "after significant consideration" to continue with it as scheduled.

"We feel it's important to have an event that can bring everyone together in a positive way," organizers said Wednesday night.

Morris County Prosecutor Robert Carroll at a press conference announcing the a murder/suicide of a family that occurred in Roxbury.
Morris County Prosecutor Robert Carroll at a press conference announcing the a murder/suicide of a family that occurred in Roxbury.

News of the deaths spread on social media, where local users recalled the kindness of the family and Kellie Ventricelli's impact on their children at the preschool. On Wednesday, neighbors said the family had lived in the home for about 20 years. The Ventricellis were known for beautifully decorating the house on holidays throughout the year.

A GoFundMe page created Wednesday to help with family burial costs had raised more than $62,000 as of Friday afternoon, exceeding the $50,000 goal.

Roxbury High School announced that it is coordinating support services for students affected by the Ventricellis' deaths. Hillside Church officials are also working with preschool leadership to ensure that the community "has all that they need to grieve, process, and heal in the days and weeks ahead."

A prayer service for the family will be held at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at the St. Therese Church on Main Street in Succasunna, the church announced on its website.

Hillside Church's regular "Time to Pray" session, held at 7:30 p.m. every Thursday, served as a prayer vigil for the preschool community this week. The church has scheduled an additional vigil at 7 p.m. Sunday, according to the website.

Kyle Morel is a local reporter covering Morris and Sussex counties.

Email: kmorel@njherald.com; Twitter: @KMorelNJH

This article originally appeared on New Jersey Herald: Roxbury NJ community prays for family lost to murder-suicide