HUMMELS WHARF -- Jean Elizabeth Forester's death in a fire that destroyed her home Wednesday came just three years after her son Jerry was killed in an all-terrain vehicle accident.
Forester, a former barmaid at Friendship Hose Company in Sunbury, had been unemployed since her son's death.
"She broke apart when her son was in an accident," said Walter Bur, bartender at Friendship for the past 13 years.
He said he had worked with Forester for about eight years. "She loved her family," Bur said, adding that she had visited her son and daughter in Wiconisco and Millersville as often as she could. She also had four grandchildren.
"She was very nice to work with," he said. "She loved life."
Forester's ex-husband, Larry Forester, agreed.
"I had more fun with her than anyone in my life," he said.
They were divorced about seven years ago.
Don Marks, of Sunbury, a regular at the Friendship Hose Company, said, "She was a very nice individual, very pleasant."
Forester was killed after becoming trapped in the living room of the two-story house. Her body was found 90 minutes after firefighters arrived on the scene.
She most likely fell asleep on the couch and was wrapped in a blanket, which would have made it difficult to get up quickly, said Deputy Fire Chief John Grove, of the Hummels Wharf Fire Department.
She was a smoker, but there is no indication that she was smoking at the time of the fire, he said.
Her companion, John "Jack" Rudy, was injured in the fire. He was listed in critical condition at the Lehigh Valley Burn Center on Thursday evening. From the extent of his burns, it is likely that Rudy either remained in the house or re-entered the house to try to save Forester, Grove said.
"Jean and Jack were together for a long time," Bur said.
Rudy has been a full-time night shift bartender at the Selinsgrove Moose since 2004.
Linda Erdman, manager of the Moose and Rudy's boss, described him as well-loved and reliable. She said fundraisers to help him are being planned.
Everyone needs to hold a prayer vigil, she added.
"We can pull a fundraiser together in two days," she said. "We are quick to respond if something like that is in need."
They have been talking of having fundraisers such as a hoagie drive, bingo, and a dinner dance.
Both Forester and Rudy were known as quiet people, Erdman said. They often traveled to area hose companies, and Rudy worked at quite a few clubs.
They would often come to the Moose on Saturdays, Erdman said. Rudy loved to shoot pool. He was a member of one of the three pool teams at the Moose.
"He was just in here Monday night to hang out and shoot pool, to practice," Erdman said.
Their favorite spot was the Hummels Wharf Fire Company. Joanne Wagner, daytime bartender at the company, said they often came there late at night.
"She will be missed," she said.
She, just like others who know Rudy, are anxiously waiting to see if he will improve.
Jan Dowd, daytime bartender at the Moose, stated everyone's hope best. "He's going to get better," she said confidently.
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