Many people walked past colorful flower arrangements and boards decorated with family photos at Word of Life Church in Hempfield Friday.
Couples held hands and parents held their children close, waiting to offer condolences and hugs to members of the Miranda John and Tyler King family.
John warmly welcomed each person.
The service remembered four of John’s children — Kyson John, 7; Kinzleigh John, 6; Keagan John, 3; and Korbyn John, 1 month old — who died in a fire on March 20 that destroyed their Guy Street home. The children’s father and Miranda’s fiancé, Tyler J. King, 27, also perished in the fire.
John and two of her other children — Kaiden, 10, and Kash, 1 — were the only survivors.
There were only a few empty seats at the public memorial service, with almost all filled with family, friends, neighbors, and fellow Jeannette residents who came to honor the family.
The room was filled with the sounds of crying and sniffling as Kenneth King, Tyler’s twin brother, shared memories of his sibling, nieces and nephews.
Kenneth “Kenny” King shared the nicknames he and his brother had for the children. Kyson was the triceratops, Kinzleigh was the turkey and Keagan was the Galapagos tortoise, he said.
Kyson loved dinosaurs, Minecraft, and going to Idlewild, Kenny said.
Kenny mentioned that Kyson had many pickup lines and laughed.
Kenny remembered building Legos with Kinzleigh and watching her perform with her cheerleading team. He called Keagan his buddy, who would run up to Kenny as soon as he walked in the door.
Korbyn completed the family, he said.
“She was just only one month old,” he said, “but I’m sure she would have been a world of joy, just as much as each and every one of them.”
Kenny spoke through tears as he talked about playing in the woods, walking along the train tracks, and riding quads with his brother.
“During our teenage years, we’d walk around everywhere in town,” he said. “We’d always walk, no matter where we’d go, just to hang out with our friends.”
His favorite memories of his twin come from time spent with the children.
“His kids and everyone around him was his world. He put a smile on everyone’s face,” Kenny said. “I love you so much, Tyler. You will always be my A1, day one, best friend, hero and my big brother.”
Delena Lewis, Tyler and Kenny’s mother, took to the microphone next. But as she was about to read the names of her grandchildren, she paused, stepped away, and embraced a family member as she wept.
Kenny read the statement his mother prepared, touching upon Tyler’s love of building Legos, playing video games, and spending time with his family.
“As Tyler came into adulthood and became a father, I could not have been more proud of him,” the statement read.
Kyson called Lewis and her husband the “pizza grandparents,” she said in the statement, because they often ordered pizza during family visits.
“Kinzleigh loved telling on her pappy so she could hear me tell him he was in trouble, and she would let out this cute little giggle,” the statement read, eliciting lighthearted laughs from the audience. “Keagan was Tyler’s little sidekick. He would even take Tyler’s phone from him and run through the house.
The statement expressed Lewis's excitement to witness Korbyn's future as a young lady.
Pastor Michael Jung immediately contacted a friend when he learned about the fire.
Jung, from the Salvation Army Jeannette Corps, encouraged people to talk and share their feelings instead of keeping them inside.
Prior to visiting Miranda, Kash, and Kaiden in the hospital after the fire, Pastor Nate Keisel parked his car and shed tears.
Keisel expressed that he and many others felt deeply affected by the recent events and couldn't comprehend the challenges faced by the victims.
Referring to scripture, Keisel, from Mosaic Community Church in Jeannette, reminded the audience that it's okay to mourn.
Tyler's life was unique and meaningful, and Kyson's life was significant due to his intense love and care for others.
Keisel highlighted the meaningful and beautiful lives of Kinzleigh, Keagan, Korbyn, despite their short duration, and emphasized the importance of mourning their loss.
A private burial and reception took place after the service. The cause of the fire is still being investigated. The investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing.
