South Toms River Fire Victim Left Seven Children Behind

by Patricia A. Miller

Funeral services for Diana Nicole Norwood, the woman who died in the South Toms River fire this week, are set for Saturday at the Anderson and Campbell Funeral Home in Manchester.

Norwood, 35, was trapped in the basement of a home at 96 South Main Street when the fire broke out. Six firefighters were hospitalized after they tried to save her before a "flashover" explosion in the home, authorities have said.

She left behind her seven children, her fiancé, family, and friends.

Here is her obituary from the Anderson and Campbell website:

Diana Nicole Norwood, 35, the daughter of Cecilia Norwood and Sterling Jackson was born August 11, 1978 in Philadelphia, PA. She passed away on May 5, 2014 in Toms River, NJ.

She relocated with her mother and grandparents to Lakewood, NJ and grew up there with her younger brother Aris J. Norwood. She has six other siblings: Robbie and Fatima of Maryland, Sherita and Darius of Georgia, Maleek of Neptune and Crystal of California. She attended Lakewood High School and went on to receive certification in the field of dentistry. She worked at Lakewood Pediatrics for almost a decade.

Diana has a loving fiancé, Omar Alford and seven beautiful children; Ka'Ziyaah 19, Jusaziyaah 18, Zahnie 12, Avery 6, Anthony 4, Aven, 3 and Zayden 1. She also has two step-children Sa'vion, 8, and Omar Jr., 6.

In addition to her children Diana was loved by her grandparents Joyce Jordan and Bernard Norwood Sr. and Ann Norwood, her Aunt Renee and Uncle Bernard Jr.; her cousin Tiffany Johnson, step-father Darell Chandler and best friend Cindy Roggen Kamp. Diana has a host of family and close friends.

Viewing will be held on Saturday May 10, 2014 at the Anderson and Campbell Funeral Home, 3010 Ridgeway Road, Manchester, NJ 08759 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., with a service from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Diana's memory to a trust fund that will be established for her children C/O Kendall Craighead, 123 Second Avenue, Toms River, NJ 08757.