5 Siblings Buried Together in Custom Caskets After St. Louis Fire: 'The Community Is Hurting'

Five siblings under the age of 10 were laid to rest on Saturday, weeks after aSt. Louis apartment fireclaimed their lives.A funeral was held on Saturday for Sabrina Dunigan’s five children: Loy-el Dunigan, 2, Jabari Johnson, 4, 8-year-old twins Heaven and Neveah Dunigan, and Deontae Davis, 9, according to theSt. Louis Post-Dispatch. The children were buried in custom caskets, which featured their pictures as well as colorful depictions of ponies, butterflies and video game scenes.

“If you look at the casket, it’s really a glimpse of their young lives,” he added.

The fire broke out on Aug. 6, just after the children’s mother had left the house to pick up her boyfriend, theSt. Louis Post-Dispatchreported. By the time she returned, their second-floor apartment was engulfed in flames and her attempts to rescue her children were unsuccessful.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, according to theBelleville News-Democrat.

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In addition to expressing their sorrow, funeral attendees shared messages of support with the children’s mother.

“We all know, your whole entire family knows, that you were a great mom and loved those children,” said the children’s great-aunt Sheila Dunigan, according to theSt. Louis Post Dispatch.

“The community is hurting,” East St. Louis Mayor Robert Eastern III said ahead of the service, the outlet reported. “We stand in support of the mom, emotionally and spiritually.”

source: people.com