Bristol Man Seeks to Parents Victims of House Fire

Michael and wife Leah Freudenberger-Vitale have deep roots living on the 700 block of Pine Street, only yards away from where his parents used to live.  A  fire that ripped through their home has displaced them, for now to Morrisville as work to repair the damages is still in the infancy stage. 

Having lived in that home for 38 years memories have been lost and now they have to start all over.

“It could have been much worse” Michael said of the May 29 fire, and he’s not kidding. `

“In the basement, firefighters found a table saw that had been involved in the fire. The heat melted a water line directly above the fire.  The water from the melted water line extinguished the fire, ” Bristol Borough Fire Chief Herb Slack said.

Credit: Submitted

Sitting with family and friends on their front porch which is customary Michael said his father, even with all the stress coming as a result of the fire and the damages is still working for SEPTA as a mechanic as he has for decades.

“Dad”s  old fashioned that way” he said “I don’t think he’ll ever retire. He just likes to work, you know be productive. He’s never been one for handouts” 

That’s why creating the Go Fund Me fundraiser took just a little a nudge from me and Leah, he said. 

Further complicating matters for the close knit family is  “Mom’s” health issues which require,  daily if not hourly help. Mike’s brother Lucas has basically stopped working to provide the 24/7 care, “Mom” needs. 

My parents are proud people” asking for help of any kind outside the family circle is not something they ever foresaw having to” the Pine Street couple, said. 

The entire family, like so many others, were impacted by COVID  but we’re happily “getting by” 

But this fire…… ate up the everyday things needed to exist. Insurance isn’t covering everything, the husband and wife said. 

No one actually knows when they will be able to come back to place they’ve called home for decades the family said. My parents grew up in a time that if you needed some kind of help or support with something the local church was the place to go – outside of family. 

We just want to help our family get back home (Pine St)  as soon as possible hoping they can remake their home so we can be as a whole family as we were, before the fire, Michael said.

I know plenty of people are going through  a rough time, now. We don’t expect to million’s that’s not what we’re looking for, If we can somehow get to $5000.00 I’ll truly feel like I helped my dad and mom, like they did for us so many times in the past. 

Its a principle both, we’re taught, growing up—- by their parents.  

To date the effort has received 15 donations totaling $920.  To donate to the Go Fund Me fundraiser please click here.