Fundraiser held for victims of Monday’s apartment fire

Friends and family got together Saturday evening to raise money to cover the burial expenses of a mother and her daughters who perished in a fire.

The fundraiser came after Magaly Mendoza and her two daughters Andrea and Paulina were killed in a apartment fire Monday morning.

Friends, family and supporters met at Rods Sports Bar and Lounge. The bar had raffles, live entertainment and food for those supporting the Mendoza family.

Mendoza’s relatives tell ABC-7 they are still in shock after the blaze that took the lives of their loved ones.

Saturday night might have seemed like a normal night at Rods Sports Bar and Lounge with friends coming together for a drink and some catching up but the establishment wasn’t just filled with regular bar patrons.

There are also those who came together to support the Mendoza family, still
feeling the pain for the loved ones they lost.

“We have our moments. How it happened is very tragic but we’re remembering them in a happy way,” said Mendoza’s youngest sister, Karyna.

Karyna tells ABC-7, out of five sisters Magaly stood out in her own way.

“It’s hard because she was the lovable one and our nieces they were like our daughters,” said Karyna.

Karyna and family members are humbled-telling ABC-7 the amount of support from the community has helped them through the hard times.

Eric Mendoza, Magaly’s cousin, tells ABC-7 support has gone beyond El Paso.

“Everybody’s been helping out from Las cruces, El Paso and even Cd. Juarez, they’ve been helping us out supporting us with whatever they can,” Eric said.

“It’s important because it shows how everyone loved my sister and what a great person she was always happy,” Karyna said.

Karyna told ABC-7 once everything is said and done on this night, there’s one memory that she wants everyone to walk away with.

“That they were happy people. That they were very lovable and loved to have fun very adventurous. They loved to dance and I don’t think anyone would want to remember them other than being happy,” said Karyna.

The viewing for Magaly Mendoza and her two daughters will take place Sunday at the San Jose Funeral Home located at 10950 Pellicano drive from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.