FOUR MEMBERS OF ONE FAMILY — A GRANDMOTHER, HER DAUGHTER AND TWO GRANDSONS — DIE IN DEVASTATING CHICAGO HOUSE FIRE. THEIR FAMILY DOG ALSO PERISHES

A close-knit family of four has been lost in a devastating early-morning house fire in Chicago, leaving relatives, neighbors and an entire community struggling to comprehend the tᩚraɢedy.

Maria Piedad Jimenez de Garcia, 69, her daughter Mariza Garcia Jimenez, 48, and her two sons, Francisco “Frankie” Vallejo, 24, and Valentino “Tino” Vallejo, 13, all died after a fire tore through their Rogers Park townhome on Thursday, November 5.

Their beloved family dog also perished.

The family had lived in the home on North Paulina Street since 2005. For more than two decades, it had been the center of their family life and a familiar presence in the surrounding neighborhood.

Now, the home where so many memories were made has become a place of mourning.

A TERRIFYING MORNING NO ONE COULD HAVE IMAGINED

The fire broke out shortly after 4:14 a.m. in a townhome in the 7000 block of North Paulina Avenue, near Greenleaf Avenue, on Chicago’s North Side.

As flames spread through the residence, neighbors were awakened by desperate cries for help.

One neighbor, Elise Adu, told the Chicago Sun-Times that she heard people screaming from the home. She recalled hearing a family member say they did not have their phone.

She immediately alerted her parents and called for help.

Other neighbors also woke to the smell of smoke and the sight of flames.

Firefighters and emergency responders rushed to the scene. Four family members were found unconscious and were given CPR before being transported to local hospitals.

Despite emergency efforts, all four were later pronounced dead.

The family dog, a four-year-old Labradoodle named Remi, also died in the fire.

A MOTHER, A DAUGHTER AND TWO SONS — FOUR LIVES GONE TOGETHER

The victims were later identified as Maria, Mariza, Francisco and Valentino.

For their surviving relatives, the loss was almost impossible to put into words.

Maria was remembered as the family matriarch — the person who held everyone together, particularly after her husband died during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Her daughters described a family built on love, loyalty and a deep connection to one another.

Mariza was known for her warmth, generosity and involvement in the community. She volunteered as a catechist at St. Jerome’s Catholic Church and helped care for children in the neighborhood.

She was also a devoted mother who took pride in her sons.

Francisco, 24, was remembered by relatives as a young man who was treated with kindness and respect by the people around him. He worked as a dishwasher at Northwestern University and had intellectual disabilities.

His family said his coworkers treated him with patience and never made him feel less than anyone else.

Valentino, affectionately known as “Tino,” was just 13 years old and an eighth-grade student at Kilmer International Academy.

His former teacher, Kathy Schaper, remembered him as one of the kindest and gentlest children she had ever known.

She described him as a boy who was always willing to help whenever someone asked.

His dєatᩚh has left his school community heartbroken.

A FAMILY THAT MEANT SO MUCH TO THEIR NEIGHBORS

The tᩚraɢedy has touched far beyond the family’s immediate relatives.

Neighbors described the family as friendly, generous and deeply involved in the Rogers Park community.

They hosted block parties, shared food and looked after one another’s children. Some neighbors even trusted the family with their house keys when they traveled.

Maria was also remembered for the warmth she showed to people she encountered every day.

Her family had once operated La Guadalupana, a Mexican restaurant on Devon Avenue that became part of their story after they moved to the United States.

Mariza was equally beloved by people in the neighborhood. Staff at a nearby restaurant, South of the Border, remembered her as cheerful and quick to make them laugh.

For many people, the family was not simply the household next door. They were friends, familiar faces and an important part of the community.

THE SISTERS FACING THE UNIMAGINABLE TASK OF FOUR FUNERALS

As relatives grieve, they are also facing the heartbreaking responsibility of arranging four funerals.

The family’s surviving sisters have spoken about the difficulty of losing their mother, sister and two nephews all at once.

They have launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover funeral expenses and support the family during this devastating time.

The response from the community has been overwhelming, with neighbors, friends and even people who never personally knew the family contributing to the fundraiser.

Relatives have expressed their gratitude to everyone who has offered prayers, donations and support.

They have also asked for time and space to grieve as they begin to process a loss that has changed their lives forever.

A FINAL TRADITION THEY PLAN TO KEEP ALIVE

Just days before the fire, the family had gathered to celebrate Día de los Muertos, the Mexican holiday honoring loved ones who have passed away.

Mariza and her mother had helped create elaborate altars and decorations for the occasion.

It was one of their last family celebrations together.

Now, their surviving relatives say they hope to continue that tradition every year in their honor.

They also plan to return to the places Maria and Mariza loved, keeping their memories alive through the simple rituals that once brought them happiness.

The Chicago Fire Department continues to investigate the origin and cause of the fire. Family members said the home had working smoke detectors and a fire extinguisher.

No final cause has been established.

FOUR LIVES THAT WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN

A grandmother who held her family together.

A mother who gave her time to children and her community.

A young man whose kindness touched those around him.

And a 13-year-old boy remembered by his teachers as a gentle soul.

Four family members are gone, along with the dog who was part of their home.

But the love they shared, the traditions they created and the kindness they showed their neighbors remain part of the Rogers Park community.

For the relatives left behind, the road ahead will be incredibly difficult.

And for the people who knew them, the memories of Maria, Mariza, Frankie and Tino will live on.

May all four rest in peace, together with their beloved Remi.