NORTH ANDOVER — A local restaurant owner has mobilized community efforts to help the family of a woman who killed her 9-month-old son in an apparent murder-suicide last week.
On Aug. 19, investigators said they believe Jennifer T. Paez, 35, killed herself after stabbing her son Valentino Paez O’Donnell to death in the kitchen of the home at 201 Turnpike St.
Paez had a history of mental illness, according to court documents.
As members of the community try to make sense of what happened, Michael Agricola, owner of Salvatore’s Restaurant in Lawrence, said he felt compelled to ease some of the suffering of Paez’s and Paez O’Donnell’s family members.
Agricola collected donations and raised nearly $3,000 to financially assist them and provide a bereavement meal after Paez’s calling hours on Saturday. Family and friends are invited to calling hours at Farrah Funeral Home, 133 Lawrence St., Lawrence, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
The donations were raised in one day by posting on social media, and more are still coming in.
“People pitched in who don’t even know this family,” Agricola said. “It’s just beautiful. Hopefully we’ll give them a little bit of peace to let them see that they’re not alone.”
While he personally does not know the Paez family, a Salvatore’s employee has gotten to know the Paez family. The employee told Agricola about their struggles and grief to not only process the deaths, but to handle the unexpected expenses of those deaths.
He recalled how the mother and child and the rest of the family came in and enjoyed a meal at his restaurant less than a month ago.
“We were all playing with that baby and now he’s gone,” Agricola said about Salvatore’s staff interacting with Paez O’Donnell. “What a tragedy. But as a good human, I couldn’t be in a position to help and not do so.”
The family’s story touched Agricola and he wanted to help, no matter how small, and offer some comfort. The restaurant owner has been active in the community since moving to Haverhill several years ago and said he’s seen how much kindness can make a difference to a person going through a hard time.
Agricola said he hopes the gesture inspires others to show empathy to a grieving family. He added the community’s answer to the call to action to help the Paez family speaks volumes about the people in the Merrimack Valley.