Funeral details were announced Thursday for three young children who died when the north Minneapolis house their family had just moved into was ravaged by fire over the weekend.
Latorious Thomas, 6, Latoria Thomas, 5, and Latorianna Thomas, just a few days short of 2, died in the fire that began shortly before midnight Saturday in the house in the 2700 block of Penn Avenue N.
Services for the three will be held at 11 a.m. on Oct. 17 at Spiritual Church of God, 3978 W. Broadway, Robbinsdale, said Pastor Harding Smith. Among those expected at the funeral will be Minneapolis firefighters, and their labor union is inviting personnel who responded to the blaze to attend.
Investigators say the fire began in the kitchen area. Family friends believe that the children's mother, Taneisha Stewart, turned on the oven for warmth because the furnace wasn't working.
On Wednesday, the Hennepin County medical examiner's office said that the children died from burns and smoke inhalation. Fire investigators said the cause of the blaze is undetermined.
PAUL WALSH
