Hundreds Gather At Funeral of 7 Children Killed in Fire

Elliotsburg, Pennsylvania- Farmers Ted and Janelle Clouse worst nightmare was realized last week when seven of their eight children were killed when their house caught on fire. Only one child 3 year old Leah was spared when she ran out to house to alert her mother who was on the farm milking cattle of the blaze inside. Their father was out delivering milk to clients. The blaze was too strong and fierce for Janelle or emergency crews to get in to save the children. By the time it was under control it was too late and Christina, 11; Isabelle, 9; Brady, 7; Hannah, 6; Heidi, 4; Miranda, 18 months; and Samantha, 9 months were killed in the blaze believed to be caused by a propane tank.

At the service, which took place on March 15th, seven little white caskets laid side by side, the caskets were so small that it only took three hearse vehicles to carry them to the cemetery. Rev. Doran Wray, senior pastor of the Clouses’ Church, said everything from food to blankets to clothes to money to building materials has been donated by county residents as well as people statewide, nationwide "and even as far away as Australia." Friends have already torn down the old charred house and the foundation for a new home down the street is being built while the surviving members stay in a donated mobile home on site of the new foundation. Even the caskets and grave sites, at the Living Christ church, were donated.

Rev. Wray told the assemblage, "We feel the weight of this. It hangs like a pall. The family measures its grief in confused thoughts. We feel this loss in our bones. We ask you, God, to bring a point of clarity and truthfulness. We ask for a place of truth and of peace provided by your spirit."

He recalled the biblical story of Job, who lost 10 children.
"We don't have the answers here but we do know that our God is good. We must have faith," he said.

Family and friends remembered each child one by one and had pictures projected on a slide show in the 75 minute ceremony.
It’s still unsure if the Clouse family will ever return to the site where seven of their family members loss their lives. Rev. Wray said, "It's too early to talk about that.”

The church is serving as one collection point for donations. Its website, churchofthelivingchrist.cc "has had more than 60,000 hits in the last week," the pastor said. Funds are pouring into two accounts to help the family with their ongoing expenses. Donations can be made to the Clouse Family Fund, c/o the Church of the Living Christ, Box 180, Loysville, PA 17047, or the Perry County Chamber of Commerce, Box 663, New Bloomfield, PA 17068.

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