A memorial services is planned Saturday for the three young girls killed in a deadly house fire in Crete last month.
The girls were identified as 16-year-old Kassidy Nicole James, 11-year-old Mary Ann James and 7-year-old Ivory Jean James in the announcement of memorial services planned for Saturday.
Walter Palmer, 71, was also killed in the fire, according to the Will County coroner’s office.
A visitation for the three girls are planned to take place from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday at Gatling’s Chapel, 10133 S. Halsted St., Chicago, followed by a service and repast.
Palmer was a retired member of BLET Division 582 in Chicago, according to a statement shared by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen.
Palmer was the girls’ grandfather and their primary caregiver after their mother had died of cancer, the union said.
Firefighters were called to the one-story home on Chalet Court at about 1 a.m. March 25, according to the village. They attempted to search the home but were forced to withdraw due to “rapidly deteriorating conditions” including heavy fire and a partial roof collapse. It took about 40 minutes to get the fire under control.
Kassidy’s 16th birthday had been the day before the fire, according to the memorial announcement.
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The family has organized a fundraiser to pay for funeral and memorial expenses for the three girls.
“The pain and heartbreak our family is feeling right now is overwhelming, and we are struggling to cope with the loss of these precious girls,” the fundraiser’s description read.
Kassidy, Mary and Ivory were all students at Crete-Monee School District 201-U, the school district confirmed in a statement following the fire.
“This is a devastating time for our school community,” the school district said. “We are all grieving together, and we will do everything we can to support our students, staff, and families in the days ahead.”
The fire was determined to be electrical and started accidentally. The Illinois State Fire Marshal’s office is investigating the exact cause. The Crete Police Department said that the fire marshal’s office has not released its final report yet.