Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

WARREN -- The state Office of the Medical Examiners has concluded that 98-year-old Stacy W. Delekta died from smoke inhalation in a fire at her Seymour Street home Wednesday morning, according to the Warren Police Department.

The body of Delekta was found in the basement of her one-and-a-half story bungalow at 91 Seymour St. after firefighters were called there at about 10 a.m. It took them 45 minutes to get the blaze under control, by which time the house had sustained heavy damage.

In a statement today, Warren Police Chief Thomas D. Gordon said the fire originated in the kitchen of Delekta’s house. He said that a preliminary investigation conducted by the state fire marshal’s office in conjunction with Warren Fire Capt. Vincent Calenda “tend[s] to infer a nonsuspicious origin.”

The investigation is continuing, said Gordon.

Delekta was the widow of Ignatius F. Delekta, the founder of Delekta’s Pharmacy, a landmark on Main Street in Warren. The old-fashioned drug store is now operated by the couple’s grandson and is famous for its soda fountain and coffee cabinets.

-- Journal staff writer Alex Kuffner

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