3 boys of slain mother homeless again

Three Conshohocken brothers whose father was arrested last weekend in the slaying of their mother are again homeless.

Fire damaged the Plymouth Township home where the Giongo brothers were staying, township police spokesman Joe Lawrence said yesterday, and the Red Cross was working to find housing for the boys.

The brothers, ages 7, 10 and 18, had been staying at their grandmother's house in the Plymouth Valley section of the township since their mother's body was discovered Sunday in their home, Lawrence said.

Joseph Giongo, 44, has been charged with murder, accused of beating his wife, Bernadette, 42, to death.

Firefighters were called to the grandmother's house in the 800 block of Woodbrook Lane just after 9:20 p.m. Tuesday. A fire had broken out in the chimney, and smoke was coming out of the attic. The fire was extinguished and no one was injured, Lawrence said.

Fire personnel were called back at 7:41 a.m. yesterday after flames moved into the interior walls.

Although the house was not destroyed, the family cannot stay there, said Detective Todd Jordan of the township police.

Friends, neighbors and community members have come forward in support of the Giongo brothers.

"There's been an outpouring from people in the community, individuals, businesses donating money to the family," Lawrence said. "This time of year, it's a really nice thing to see."

Karen Gross, a volunteer for Mommy's Light, an Exton organization that helps children who have lost their mothers, has reached out to the family.

"Once they contact us," Gross said, "they will have an army of people to help them - hundreds of people who are going to reach out to the community on their behalf."

Donations may be sent to the Giongo Children's Fund, c/o Continental Bank, 661 W. German-

town Pike, Plymouth Meeting, Pa. 19462.