TURNERS FALLS — Family, friends and community members said their farewells Saturday to the five members of the Seago family who died in a house fire last weekend.
Lucinda Seago, 42, and four of her children, Peter Seago, 7, Demetria Seago, 9, Martin Seago, 12, and Nicholas Seago, 15, perished in the fire at 405 Richmond Road, which started when a wood stove ignited nearby combustibles, according to fire officials. Lucinda’s husband, Scott, and their daughter Vivian were able to escape.
A funeral was held at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Czestochowa church, followed by a reception at Warwick Community School at 12:30 p.m.
Lucinda Seago served on the Board of Health, and is remembered as being pleasant to everyone in town.
“I liked her right off the bat,” Kathy Tuttle-Connelly said. “She had one of those magnetic personalities.”
Lucinda Seago, who had a background in nursing, took Tuttle-Connelly’s place on the Board of Health when she moved from Warwick to Orange. Tuttle-Connelly said she met her only a few times.
“She was a delightful lady,” Tuttle-Connelly said. “I think the Board of Health was fortunate to have her.”
“Lucinda seemed like a very caring person, committed to the community,” Warwick resident Tom Wyatt said.
“I never heard anything but pleasant comments about her,” added Select Board Chairwoman Dawn Magi.
The children, though often quiet, were very intelligent, Warwick residents say. For example, Phil Simon, whose children attended school with the Seago children, said Martin won an award upon his graduation from Warwick Community School for excellence in math. Nicholas, Simon continued, took an interest in technology. According to honor roll listings from Pioneer Valley Regional School, Nicholas was on the honor roll in December.
Magi recalls a particular Select Board meeting last year when Demetria and Vivian presented the board with some plants from the elementary school’s new greenhouse.
“Just the sweetest little girls,” Magi said. “So polite and a little shy.”
It was clear that many people cared about the Seagos, Warwick residents said, noting the hundreds of people who attended the funeral and reception.
“There must have been close to 300 people there,” Magi said of the reception. “I haven’t seen so many hugs in a long time.”
Walking from the Our Lady of Czestochowa church Saturday morning, Fire Chief Ron Gates said the Warwick Fire Department “extends their deepest sympathies to the Seago family.”
Gates also wants to remind residents to regularly change the batteries on smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, to be alerted to fires in their homes as soon as possible.
“Don’t just depend on the fact that you changed your batteries,” he said. “Have a plan to get out.”
The community has also come together to support Scott and Vivian Seago, furnishing an apartment for them, purchasing Scott a cell phone and donating money. More than $65,000 has been raised for the Seagos through more than 600 donations via an online fundraising platform as of Saturday evening.
http://bit.ly/2lUGNPo
“They’ve got a good strong community,” Tuttle-Connelly said of the Seagos. “Warwick really pulls together for anyone in need.”