Members of the church community at Our Lady Help of Christians in Newton reacted to the unimaginable deaths of three of their longtime parishioners on Monday, with Father Dan Riley calling the trio, “Three of the most wonderful people.” On Tuesday, family members of the victims embraced, wiped tears and grabbed hands as they left the courthouse after the suspect’s arraignment. 

“Italian tradition — family is very tight and they represented that,” said Carl Pasquarosa of the St. Mary of Carmen Society. “And to think they were all together, not surprising, tragic, sad.” Gilda “Jill” D’Amore and her husband Bruno D’Amore were scheduled to renew their wedding vows on Sunday as part of celebrations for their 50th wedding anniversary. A friend found the D’Amores in their home with Lucia Arpino, Gilda’s mother, after the couple did not arrive at their church as planned.