Massachusetts assisted-living blaze kills a musician, secretary, and veteran Army sharpshooter

Gabriel House had seen better days The -unit assisted-living facility that burned Sunday night killing nine people so far opened in in Fall River Massachusetts Specific photos on its Facebook page show neat rooms but older-looking carpeting and furniture Her granddaughter didn t like the assisted-living center but -year-old Eleanor Willett demanded something that left her money to play the slots at a casino She earned too much to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to afford a higher-priced assisted-living facility Holly Mallowes notified The Associated Press Tuesday She declared I don t need much but a roof over my head and someplace to put my sewing machine Mallowes reported Willett was the oldest to die Here s what is known so far about the casualties Eleanor Willett A Massachusetts native Willett spent more than years as a secretary and even worked briefly as a cocktail waitress her granddaughter disclosed Her home was dependably a base for everyone in her family Mallowes noted My mom worked a lot and Grammy s was unfailingly a place we called home stated Mallowes We lived with her often She was very strong She outlived two husbands and raised five children She was absolutely a bliss Mallowes a paralegal who lives in Dartmouth described her grandmother as very religious and a devout Catholic She requested to be somewhat independent Mallowes announced of Willett s decision to move to Gabriel House in Fall River about miles kilometers south of Boston To leave her home alone all day I was to afraid something might happen As our grandparents and parents get older we say I ll make it to go see them a different day and you reliably put it off Mallowes mentioned See them while you can The next day is not promised Kim Mackin Mackin was a violist who performed in Boston-area orchestras according to her nephew Austin Mackin She was described in a comment from family members as gifted beyond words We will all miss Kimmy the report read Beyond being exceptionally kind scant knew that she was a brilliant musician Kim Mackin received a full scholarship to the Manhattan School of Music and after graduating toured the world as first chair viola Richard Rochon Breonna Cestodio described her -year-old uncle Rochon as a very quiet guy yet a great guy He kept to himself she recounted reporters He was a sharpshooter in the Army He loved getting visits from all of his nieces and nephews Rochon moved into Gabriel House about a year ago Cestodio had little good to say about the facility remarking that it dependably seemed hot inside the building Every time you visited him he was sweating she reported No air in the building I never saw any workers except in one closed-off section I never saw any workers