Funerals for the three teenage fire victims of the past two weeks take place this Saturday, June 13, at two different churches. Alina Jade Toone (17) and Jeremiah Joseph Toone (15) died on May 27 in a fire at their home in Cortlandt. A week later, on June 3, Tremel (Poppa) Taylor Jr., 15, died in a fire at his home in Peekskill. The causes of both fires are still under investigation.
Visiting hours for Alina and Jeremiah are on Friday, June 12, from 3 to 8 p.m. at the Yorktown Funeral Home, 945 E. Main St., Shrub Oak. Their funeral service will be Saturday, ,June 13, at 9:30 a.m. at Reach Church, 294 Old Mamaroneck Rd., White Plains. Interment is at Rose Hills Memorial Park, Putnam Valley.
Visiting is from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. for Tremel at Dwyer & Michael’s Funeral Home, 90 N. Broadway, Tarrytown, on Saturday, June 13. Homegoing service begins at noon from the funeral home. There will be a livestream broadcast for the service. The burial is to follow at 2:00 p.m. at Dale Cemetery in Ossining. [Tremel’s obituary can be found HERE.]
Latoya Scott, mother of Tremel Jr., started a GoFundMe page for a foundation she is creating in memory of her son. She explained that there is a need to be more proactive about the overall safety for children with autism and special disabilities to know about emergency and fire training. “Enduring this tragedy has made me realize there isn’t enough life saving training and plans for autism families. We’re so busy trying to create comfort and routines that a lot of the time life saving plans get pushed aside. Which is why I want to start Poppa’s Foundation, to help provide fire safety and emergency planning for kids with autism and all children with disabilities.”
At Monday’s Common Council meeting, Mayor Vivian McKenzie read a statement expressing condolences to the family and noting the effort of the fire department. She also acknowledged that the grandmother of Tremel serves on the City’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.
The GoFundMe Page started by Jessica Shannon for the Toone family has raised over $230,000 from more than 2,400 donations.
