Saturday was a sombre occasion for the friends and family of a mother and two children that died in a
townhouse fire just days before Christmas.
Hundreds turned out to mourn the loss of Diane Anderson, a mother of five who perished with her three-year-old son Jahziah and nine-year-old daughter Tayjah in the North York blaze.
The single mother had three other children that survived the tragic fire, including one who tried to save them all.
"I would never think in my entire life that I would have to bury my mom and my sister and my brother," daughter Ieisha Simpson said through tears.
"If you guys don't remember anything else of her," added niece Casasha Anderson. "Just please keep in your hearts and in your minds that she was definitely full of love."
When firefighters arrived at the scene on Grandravine Dr. on Dec. 22, Anderson's home was fully engulfed in flames. The fire began on the main floor, where fire officials later determined the smoke detector had been disconnected.
Diane's sister, Sophia Anderson, will take over the responsibility of caring for the surviving siblings.
"It's a major loss for our family," she said outside the emotional service. "Our family will never be the same without my sister."
Members of Anderson's North York community raised $15,000 to help pay the funeral costs and a trust fund has also been set up for the Anderson family.
You can donate to the
Anderson Family Trust Fund at any branch of
TD Canada Trust.
Transit #: 14802
Account #: 6307854