WORCESTER, Mass. - Worcester is remembering five people who lost their lives last year by inscribing their names in a monument which honors civilians who have perished in fires.

The monument at 1020 Main Street will now include the names of Marcel Fontaine, Joseph Garchali, Christopher Lozeau and Vincent Page, who died in a fire on Gage Street. Matthew Rublesky will also be added - he passed away in a fire at Lashua Door Co. in May. 

For the families of those whose names have been etched in memoriam, the path to healing is a difficult one. On February 12, 2021, Woodrow Adams Jr. lost three loved ones - Edna Williams, Woodrow Adams Sr. and Gerald Prince. 

“Every night, every day is a challenge," Adams Jr. said. "You’re working out in the gym, you’re looking on the news, you see fires. There’s many days where you struggle to compose yourself, to carry on through the day, but I find it very inspiring to carry out their legacies.”

Adams Jr. and other loved ones of those who died have incorporated fire safety advocacy in their mission to honor fallen friends and family. According to the Main South Alliance for Public Safety, the monument also serves as a harsh reminder that some tragedies could perhaps be prevented. 

District Chief Adam Roche of the Worcester Fire Department said there's a few simple steps families can take to be as safe as possible. 

"Make sure you have smoke alarms, make sure you have a clear egress pass," Roche said. "Make sure you have two ways out of where you live. As a community, I think when we all come together and make sure we put an emphasis on this and an emphasis on fire safety and building codes, we can really make a dent."

The annual gathering to commemorate those who died takes place on March 7 because it marks the anniversary of a 1990 fire on Florence Street that killed four people, including three children. It began when a baby's blanket was ignited by a nearby gas space heater. 

Thoughts were also with the men and women of the Worcester Fire Department, and firefighters like Christopher Roy who lost his life trying to help others in 2018. His mother Michele spoke at Tuesday's gathering. 

"Chris had a tattoo on his arm, the word 'perseverance' in honor of his grandmother," Roy said. "She persevered, and Chris followed in her footsteps. I know that night he persevered, as did everyone who was in that fire."