Funeral services held for Bellevue family of 5 killed in fire

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (PA)

April 22--A single white casket covered with bright spring flowers held the remains of a Pittsburgh family of five, killed in a fire last week.

The words the Rev. Farrel Abraham spoke at his stepdaughter's funeral were not for her, but for the more than 100 family members, friends and strangers who came out Friday morning to mourn Angela Lasch and her family.

"This is a day of celebration, not a day of regret, because we know where they are," Abraham said. "That fire that we all witnessed -- that did not bring an end to their life. It transferred them from Earth to heaven."

Angela Lasch, 38; her husband, Stephen, 41; son, Noah, 11; and daughters Kayley, 6, and Hannah, 4, died after smoke and fire filled their Roosevelt Avenue rental home as they slept upstairs.

An officer who got to the duplex just after the fire was reported about 9:30 p.m. last Friday night was met by a wall of black smoke, authorities said. He tried to contain the fire with a garden hose until fire crews arrived.

Flames poured from the front door, but firefighters managed to pull the pajama-clad family from the home. The three children died that night. Their parents were pronounced dead the next day. All died of smoke inhalation, authorities said.

Numerous Bellevue police, fire and EMS members attended the funeral, held at Risen Lord Catholic Church in Pittsburgh's Brighton Heights neighborhood.

Loved ones leaned on one another in the pews, offering comfort among tears.

"Through this tragedy, we have seen such a united spirit with all those who loved our family," said Angela Lasch's mother, Debby Abraham, at the funeral. "Now they are all together in that heavenly place."

Angela Lasch's sister, Charity Puszakowski, said she and Angela and their other sister, Kara Sergent, were incredibly close as young children. Their parents called them the Giggle Sisters, she said.

Noah, Hannah and Kayley had the best smiles, she said, sobbing.

"They enjoyed life and loved life," she said. "They meant so much to me."

An online donation page set up by Puszakowski collected money to help pay for the funeral. Its aim -- to raise $40,000 to bury the family -- was exceeded in just a few days, and donations continued to pour in. At the time of the funeral, nearly 1,000 people had donated more than $48,500.

Puszakowski wrote in an update late Thursday night that the family plans to use some of the money to help the two people living in the other half of the duplex who escaped uninjured. The donations will help with anything not covered by their insurance. She said they also intend to donate to first responders and other charities.

"We have very big hearts and know this community needs uplifted as well, not just us and our family," she said.

Farrel Abraham's voice cracked and he choked back tears as he told mourners that his step-daughter and her family were not afraid of death. He said the family was reuniting with Angela's daughter Faith, whom she miscarried several years ago.

"Death had no hold on Jesus, and death had no hold on the Lasch family," he said. "They are now experiencing love that even you can't understand."

Megan Guza is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach her at 412-380-8519 or [email protected].

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