A vigil was held Saturday afternoon for the family killed in a Northfield Township home explosion.
The service was held at Whitmore Lake High School one week after the Dec. 30 explosion.
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The blast killed four out of six people in the home, including Hope Bragg, her husband Don Bragg and their two children Kenneth and Elizabeth.
The Bragg family was visiting from Arkansas, staying with Hope’s father, Rich Pruden.
“While the Bragg family was not from here, they became a part of our community when Hope joined their family,” Northfield Township Supervisor Ken Dignan said during the vigil.
Hope was a graduate of Whitmore Lake Public Schools.
“I believe she should serve as an inspiration for all of us. A wonderful daughter, wife, mom. A true Michigander with a love of the outdoors,” Dignan said.
Extended family from out of town also attended the vigil, including Don’s siblings.
“I just wanted to thank you all for making me and my brother, John, feel like our brother really made a difference in the world and that maybe it’s going to be OK,” Don’s sister said.
The two surviving family members, Hope’s dad, Rich, and her 16-year-old son, Stephen, remain in the hospital in stable condition.
Family members of the victims also gave thanks for the first responders who arrived on scene minutes after the explosion.
Those willing to help the family can donate through GoFundMe pages set up to assist with Richard Pruden’s medical expenses and Stephen Bragg’s recovery.