Rustic Ridge community gathers in 2 places to honor the lives lost in house explosion

Teresa Champion-Feigel and her husband, Tim, walk on the weekends in the neighborhood of Rustic Ridge in Plum.

On Saturday, she said she didn’t feel like walking. Her husband suggested they go to the nearby park — Ridge Top Park.

“We were walking, and that’s when we heard the explosion,” she said as she stood in Ridge Top Park on Tuesday where a vigil was being held for the five people who died on Rustic Ridge Drive in the Rustic Ridge neighborhood Saturday. “We normally walk past that house.”

The couple joined a few hundred people gathered under white tents in the park to honor the memory of those lost and to be together. Being there was also a way to communicate about what’s been happening the past few days because not everyone is on social media, Champion-Feigel said.

“It’s about supporting each other,” she said. “This is a such a tight-knit community.”

Once evening set in, the crowd held up their smartphones and turned on their flashlights. There were prayers and hugs and tears. Many people wore purple shirts, the color of Plum. Some had a meal together.

They all were trying to comprehend how Plum Borough Manager Michael Thomas and Community Development Director Heather Oravitz; Casey Clontz and his son, Keegan; and Kevin Sebunia, were killed in a house explosion.

The blast and fire destroyed three homes and damaged at least a dozen others.

Ken Wunschel said the vigil is a way to start some of the healing — adding it will be a long road.

“Some of us still haven’t processed what happened,” Wunschel said. “But we are here in solidarity.”

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At St. John the Baptist

That solidarity carried over a few miles away where people gathered at Saint John the Baptist Church in Plum for a Holy Hour of Adoration and Benediction with Diocese of Pittsburgh Bishop David Zubik.

“This is a way to show support,” said parishioner Jenny Collier, who has lived her entire life in Plum. “People have been bringing food and clothing. And this tonight is a way to help spiritually. We are here to give love to all of the families and our neighbors in Plum. It is impossible to make sense of such a tragedy. But we believe God is with us and wrapping his arms around the Plum community.”

Zubik read each name of those who died. He was joined by several clergy and Brian Myler, who is studying as a seminarian in the Pittsburgh Diocese. Myler was at the home of his parents, Bonnie and Jack Myler, a few houses away from Saturday’s explosion.

He came to the church — which was nearly filled — to be part of the ceremony.

Six candles sat near the altar — one for each person who died and one for the injured man who is in the hospital. They held a collection for the families.

“We thought it was our house that blew up it was so loud,” Brian Myler said. “It shook the house. We walked outside and look down the street and couldn’t believe what we saw.”

He said having the church service is a way to help everyone in the community grieve together. The service was held on the Catholic Holy Day of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

“Gathering like this is very powerful,” he said.

That power of being together was felt in the voice of Greg Renko, president of the Rustic Ridge Home Owners Association. He said the tents in the park will be available for as long as the community needs to gather there.

“If you need something come and ask us,” he said. “We are here and will be here.”

A banner that reads “Plum Strong” hung from one of the tents for people to sign.