The Family Who Perished In The Pottstown House Explosion Had Relocated From Philly

POTTSTOWN, PA — The four children who died in last week's Pottstown house explosion had apparently been relocated to Montgomery County from Philadelphia in an attempt to seek out a better life, according to recent news reports.

A report from late last week in the Philadelphia Inquirer said that Eugene White, 44, and Kristina Matuzsan, 32, who were seriously injured in last week's blast and have since been listed in critical condition, had moved their family to Pottstown Borough from Northeast Philadelphia in search of a better life and to escape some of the ills that plague the city.

Those who died in the house blast last week were Francine White, 67, along with her four grandchildren: Alana Wood, 13, Jeremiah White, 12, Nehemiah White, 10, and Tristan White, 8.

A GoFundMe was recently set up to help the family through this tragedy.

The fundraiser appears to have been started by the great-uncle of the four children, who identifies himself as Eric Matuzsan.

Matuzsan said he hopes the community will help out his family during this unimaginably difficult time.

"They were such the sweetest kids who loved the out doors, bike riding, football and coming down to my place in Brigantine [New Jersey]," Matuzsan wrote in the into to the GoFundMe about the children. "They were the stars of my niece Kristina and Gene's lives."

As of the time of the publication of this story, the GoFundMe had raised close to $31,000 out of a stated goal of $75,000.

There were more than 400 donations.

Eric Matuzsan wrote that Kristina and Eugene were still in the trauma unit with more scheduled surgeries and a "long road to physically recover."

"Mentally they will never be the same," he wrote. "How could anyone after losing all four of your children in an instant?"

He stated that any funds that are donated would help defray burial and medical costs, as well as any costs relating to rehabilitation for Kristina and Eugene to try and help them "hold their lives together moving forward."

Meanwhile, in the Philadelphia Inquirer report, a man identified as Michael Matuzsan, the father of Kristina, was quoted as saying that his daughter was "so happy to finally buy a house and get out of the city."

Editor's Note: Patch will continue to bring you up-to-date coverage on the Pottstown house explosion as it becomes available.