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Two members of St. James' in Ridgefield killed in house fire

By: 
Monsy Alvarado / The Record

One day after two beloved members of their parish died in a house fire, dozens gathered Sunday at St. James Episcopal Church to grieve and pray for a woman who was active within the church, and her “sweet” young son.

In between prayer and song, a few worshipers held hands with loved ones while they shed tears for Jeralyn Scibetta and her youngest son Daniel, 14, both killed Saturday morning in their Linden Avenue home.

Scibetta, a nurse at Palisades Medical Center in North Bergen, and Daniel, an 8th-grader at Slocum Skews Middle School, were always together at the church, one parishioner recalled. The mother of three was active in church activities and would help raise funds for causes by participating in bake sales; her son was enrolled in classes to receive his confirmation in the spring, parishioners recalled.

“It’s just a shame to see someone in church every Sunday and now you are not going to see them,” said Dennis Tibus of Edgewater as he tried to hold back tears. “I believe God is with them now.”

Scibetta’s husband, Ben, her son, John, and his girlfriend — whose name has not been released — were able to escape before the early-morning fire engulfed the two-story home.