Funeral Arrangements Set For NJ Family Killed In Murder-Suicide

LINDEN, NJ - Funeral arrangements have been announced for a Union County mother and her two children after all three were killed in an apparent murder-suicide in their Linden home last week, officials said.

Visitation for Justyna, 41; Natalia, 13 and Sebastian Nieroda, 14, will be held on March 2 from 5 to 9 p.m. at Krowicki McCracken Funeral Home (2124 East Saint George Ave.) in Linden, Mayor Derek Armstead said in a statement.

Relatives and friends are also invited to the victims' funeral mass on Friday, March 3 at 10 a.m. at St. Theresa Roman Catholic Church (131 E Edgar Road) in Linden. Interment will follow at St. Gertrude Cemetery in Colonia.

A virtual memorial service guest book has been set up at krowickifuneralhome.com for the Nieroda family.

It was not immediately clear what the burial plans were for Kryzstof Nieroda, who police say shot his wife and children before shooting himself. Read more: NJ Man Shot Wife, 2 Children Before Killing Himself: Prosecutor

The home killings sent a shockwave through the community, with Linden Police Chief David Hart expressing the difficulty of expressing “how a tragedy like this impacts the community — particularly the families, first responders, and children" last week.

"We are not alone in our grief; each of us has a shared responsibility to be there for our loved ones as we mourn the loss of our friends and neighbors," Hart said. "If you or someone you know may be suffering, please don't hesitate to ask for help before a crisis occurs."

On social media, students at Linden’s McManus Middle School could be seen decorating the two teenage victims' lockers, writing letters on poster boards addressed to classmates Natalia and “Seba.”

“I’m gonna miss her sm this isn't fair,” one student wrote of Natalia on Instagram. Read more: NJ School District Mourns Children Killed In Linden Murder-Suicide

“We still cannot believe this happened,” one family friend wrote on Facebook. “Natalia has been a friend of my daughters since kindergarten and Wickersham Ave will not be the same without seeing her skateboard or ride [sic] her bike down our street with her infectious smile ...

My daughter is heartbroken as are so many kids. Seeing the tributes to Justyna, Natalia and Seba just shows how amazing they were and how the world is a little less bright without them in it.”

If you or a loved one is a victim of domestic violence, there are resources available to you. New Jersey-based nonprofit 180 Turning Lives Around can be reached via a domestic violence line at (888) 842-9262, a a sexual violence line at (888) 264-7273 and youth line at (888) 222-2228. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is open 24/7 and can be reached at (888) 843-9262.