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House Fire Kills Elderly N.J. Woman

WHIPPANY, N.J. (CBS 2) -- An elderly New Jersey woman lost her life in a house fire this Memorial Day Weekend.

A neighbor in Whippany called 911 after hearing an explosion from the house next door on Sunday. When firefighters arrived, flames were shooting from the back of the home.

Inside, they found the body of the 86-year-old victim.

Neighbors said she was active in her community, especially in her church.

"She was just a very sweet woman. She did eucharistic ministry as well. Always a smile on her face, always a very joyous woman," one neighbor said.

The woman's name was not being released until her family is notified.

There was no word on the cause of the fire.

(TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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