Funeral services were held Tuesday for one of the victims of a fatal fire near Frostburg State University.
Alyssa Salazar, 20, died Friday along with her roommate. The tragedy is magnified by what a wonderful person she was, those who knew her said Tuesday.
At the Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church in Severna Park, Md., family and friends remembered Alyssa Salazar as a beam of sunshine who brightened everyone around her.
Early Friday in Frostburg, Md., Salazar and 23-year-old Evan Kullberg, of Germantown, died of smoke inhalation from the fire in their off-campus apartment above Malino’s pizza parlor, which Kullberg co-owned. Salazar reportedly twice called 911 to report that she and Kullberg were trapped on the second floor. Ten other occupants of the building escaped the blaze without injury.
The fire was ruled accidental, caused by an overheated flue pipe from a wood stove through a first-floor wall.
The president of Frostburg State University said the community is heartbroken by the loss of the students.
The tragedy was brought home at Salazar’s funeral in the fond memories friends shared.
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Nicole Sheppard said she always had a smile on her face.
"She was popular at school," Heather Ingle said. "Everybody knew her."
"These two outstanding young kids really loved each other and took care of each other to their very end," Eric Kullberg's mother said.
His family is still planning a memorial and celebration of his life.
