Police said the fire and the woman's death are considered suspicious and are under investigation by detectives with the Springfield Police Department.
07/12/11-Springfield-Staff Photo by Dave Roback- Springfield police and firefighters enter the home at 100 Phillips Ave. in Springfield where a woman was found dead on Wednesday afternoon. This updates a story posted at 3:45 p.m. Tuesday.
SPRINGFIELD - A Phillips Avenue home where an 81-year-old city woman was found dead following a fire Tuesday afternoon has become a crime scene, according to Sgt. John Delaney, aide to Police Commissioner William J. Fitchet.
Delaney said that the fire and the woman's death are considered suspicious and are under investigation by detectives with the Springfield Police Department.
Around 3 p.m., city DPW workers and a neighbor called 911 after spotting smoke coming from 100 Phillips Ave. in the city's Boston Road neighborhood. Firefighters arrived and entered the front door and quickly extinguished the fire before finding the elderly woman and her cat deceased inside the home, according to Dennis Leger, public information officer for the Springfield Fire Department.
The woman's body was found inside the living room near the front of the cape-style house, according to Leger.
The victim, whose name is expected to be released later this evening, had lived at the house for more than 40 years, according to Evelyn Pedraza, who lives across the street.
"We've been neighbors for the past 19 years," Pedraza said. "She lived there with her husband for years and after he passed away, she stayed at the house. She didn't leave her house much but she always took care of the yard."
Pedraza said the woman was like a "best friend" to her, and that she will be missed by the whole neighborhood.
"She was such a sweet little lady. I can't believe she is gone," Pedraza said, while choking back tears. "We would have tea together and talk about the flowers we planted. She loved flowers. I know she is in a better place now, but every time I look across the street and don't see her, I will be sad."
The victim received her last rites by Springfield Fire Department Chaplin Gary M. Daley in accordance with her religious beliefs.
This is a developing story and more information will be posted as it becomes available.