Funeral services for a Collierville woman who perished in a house fire were held Saturday morning at Germantown Baptist Church.
Kari Coudriet and three teenagers were killed in a house fire on Autumn Winds Drive in Collierville.
The Collierville Fire Department responded to a house fire on the 600 block of Autumn Winds at around 11 p.m. on Dec. 23.
The victims were Coudriet, 46, Sharron, 17, Joy, 15, and Aaron, 14. The teens were members of the Naik family from India.
Coudriet’s husband, Daniel, and the couple’s teenage son, Cole, both survived the fire by leaping out of windows on the second story.
They were released from the hospital on Christmas Day.
They are members of Collierville Bible Church. The church released a statement on social media stating that the “Coudriet family is well loved in our church, community and soccer community and there has been a lot of support for them. God’s grace through his people is evident.”
Investigators from the State Fire Marshal’s Office are assisting the town’s fire department with the investigation.
The three teens were staying with the family while their parents were on an overseas missionary trip.
The Coudriet family was hosting, housing and celebrating Christmas with the teenagers, who were attending an academy in the U.S. The Naik family are missionaries in India that Collierville Bible Church supports.
“At this time, we are asking for privacy and discretion regarding the Missionary children. The family is in route from India and many of the details of the events are still being communicated to the family.”
Kari Coudriet
Coudriet’s obituary states that she was born on Aug. 16, 1971 in Cleveland, Miss.
Collierville Alderman Maureen Fraser weighed in on the tragedy.
“As David and I enjoyed Christmas with our three children, it was with a heavy heart thinking about a family that lost their three precious children in a fire in Collierville,” she wrote, “as well as the children who lost their loving mother in that same fire.
“The heartbreaking news of two families devastated by unimaginable tragedy has brought our community together to help,” she continued.
For those who prefer to use GoFundMe donation links, the Naik family’s GoFundMe is titled: “Need helping hands – family who lost all 3 kids” and there’s a second GoFundMe for the Collierville family: “Help the Coudriet Family.”
“If there is one thing we can count on in this town, it’s the generosity of our community – with prayers, love, donations and time spent helping others,” Fraser wrote.
This was the first deadly house fire in Collierville in nearly a decade.
Neighbors and friends left poinsettias, balloons and candles in front of the Coudriet’s home last week. Financial donations for the Coudriet family can be made through the Collierville Bible Church website at secure.sharefaithgiving.com/go/form.php. In the comments section write “Coudriet Family.” The Walgreens at Poplar Ave. and Byhalia accepted donations over the holidays.
