Pocono News Section

Family Mourns Mother Killed in Mother's Day Fire

Family Mourns Mother Killed in Mother's Day Fire - Monday, May 11, 2009 at 5:20PM EST

EXETER, LUZERNE COUNTY- Family and friends are mourning the loss of an Exeter woman, who died in a house fire Sunday night. 71-year-old Ann Nicholson died after flames tore through her home just off of Route 92.
It’s been an emotional day here. Relatives and neighbors have all come here to grieve a woman who was known as the mother of this community – a mother who died on Mother’s Day.

Jeff Nicholson is still in shock. Just 24 hours ago, his mother Ann was killed by fire inside her home on Old Exeter Avenue. “I saw her at 8:00. Then I got the call. It was only 20 minutes, that’s how fast it went," he said.

Eyewitness News caught the fast moving flames as they furiously devoured Ann Nicholson's home. Her son says her death on mother’s day is especially painful. “I had a tomato plant for her and I forget it. She never got it. That's all she wanted for mother's day, one tomato plant to put on her deck. It’s still over my house. I still have it. It’s going in my backyard," he said.

Neighbors say Ann Nicholson was well-known. She collected dolls, helped kids get scholarships, and along with her late husband, owned three bars.

This one, "Jeff's Place," is now run by her son. Family friend and neighbor John Scripkunas said, “She was like the neighborhood mom. She was there for everybody. She gave us popsicles when we were kids, built bunks in the backyard."

A man who lived on the other side of the double block home, Robert Meixell, was able to make it out, thanks in part to a quick-thinking neighbor who saw the flames and took action. Charlie Argenio said, “I went around back, banging on his windows/doors, yelling to him because I knew he had to be in there. He was up there sleeping."

Meixell made it out, but Ann Nicholson didn't. Now this community, and her family, mourns - on a day they should have been celebrating. Very difficult after it was Mother's Day. Very difficult," added Jeff Nicholson.

A state police fire marshal is still looking for the cause of Sunday night's deadly fire. So far no official ruling has been made.