'Hero', 'Amazing Brother': Westfield Teen's Life To Be Celebrated Thursday

WESTFIELD, NJ — Funeral arrangements have been set to celebrate the life of Jake Tooley, 19, of Westfield who was tragically killed in a house fire early Monday morning.

The funeral will be on Thursday at 11 a.m. at the New Providence Presbyterian Church, 1307 Springfield Ave. in New Providence. Refreshments will follow at Echo Lake Country Club, 515 Springfield Ave. in Westfield.

"I want this day to be a celebration of who my brother was and forever will be. Come celebrate his life with my family and I," Sam wrote on social media, according to mycentraljersey.com.

Tooley was killed following a fire at his family home on Prospect Street. His mother Alli and older brother Sam were able to escape.

• See Related: Westfield Family Shares Harrowing Details Of Fire That Killed Brother

The family also lost their family dog, Moo and all of their possessions. A GoFundMe website has been created for the Tooley family, which has already raised more than $178,000 in one day.

"Our house can be rebuilt. Our possessions can be replaced. My little brother however, will be forever missed," Sam wrote on Facebook.

Sam described the pain of the loss of his brother who he calls his "hero" on a Westfield community Facebook group.

"My words do him no justice. Nothing I say or type feels right. Everything feels off. Everything hurts. It feels like gut wrenching deja vu. Like we were just here. Today is a sad day not only for my family and I, but so many of you. Few were lucky enough to know Jake as I did. We were an inseparable team. We battled so much of what life had thrown at us over the years side by side. He was my rock through it all. The strength he had at such a young age was incredible. A quiet leader. A caring and compassionate person. A loyal friend. An amazing brother. My heart truly aches as this will be the first test I will have to endure without him by my side. Since the passing of our Dad last November I made it my mission in life to be a role model for Jake. To show him that nothing can stop you when you're dead set on succeeding. On helping people. Hopefully Jake knew that that went both ways, as he has always been my role model. He took everything in stride and did it with a smile on his face. Jake is and will forever be my hero."

(Image via Sam Tooley: Jake and Sam Tooley)

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