Flora Cafaro dies; 'Our family is devastated'

Photo

Staff report

NILES

“Our family is just devastated by this tragedy,” said Anthony Cafaro, Sr., retired head of the Cafaro Co., today after his sister, Flora Cafaro, died Thursday in a fire at her home.

He called his sister a “wonderful mother, a businesswoman and a philanthropist.”

“Our family is deeply saddened,” said her other brother, John J. Cafaro. “Flora was loved by everyone inside and outside our family.”

Flora Cafaro, 58, was pronounced dead at St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital Thursday after being rescued at 4 p.m. from her home on Stewart-Sharon Road in Brookfield, according to a statement from the family today.

The exact cause of her death, as well as the cause of the fire, are believed to be accidental, the statement says.

Flora Cafaro is survived by her two adult sons, William Cafaro-Ferraro and Jon Cafaro-Ferraro; brothers Anthony Cafaro, Sr., John J. Cafaro; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral arrangements are pending. The statement adds that the Cafaro family thanks all who have expressed their condolences and asks for privacy at this difficult time.

Firefighters responded to an alarm call from the second floor of the gated home in the 5000 block of Stewart Sharon Road about 4 p.m., said Brookfield Fire Capt. David Coffy.

Coffy said firefighters had to break through the property’s locked gate and found smoke coming out of the second floor. When they got into the home, the bedroom at the back was fully involved.

“We got her out of the house, and she was transported to St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital,” Coffy said.

She was pronounced dead at the hospital.