A young Wisconsin bride lost her life in a house fire just hours before her wedding ceremony.
Paige Ruddy, the bride-to-be, succumbed to a brain hemorrhage on Wednesday due to smoke inhalation during the fire that consumed her Reedsburg home the previous day.
The Ruddy family, filled with anticipation and excitement for the joyful occasion, instead received the bad news of the blaze and Ruddy’s death.
Despite the brave efforts of loved ones, the Reedsburg police and firefighters, emergency medical technicians, med flight responders, and the dedicated staff at UW Hospital, Paige could not be saved.
Prior to the small wedding ceremony scheduled for the next day, Paige and Logan exchanged vows in an intimate ceremony the night before. The young couple resided in the West Second Street house along with Logan’s grandparents.
In an interview, Paige’s aunt, identified as Holly, expressed concerns about the absence of functional smoke detectors in the house owned by Logan’s grandparents. Describing Paige as a cherished individual, Holly emphasized her niece’s remarkable qualities. She exuded a magnetic presence and touched the lives of those around her.
The Ruddy family had plans for Paige to enroll in a veterinary technician program at Madison Area Technical College in the coming fall. Lily Markgraf, who graduated with Paige from Reedsburg Area High School in June 2022, shared fond memories of their friendship, which began in seventh grade. Lily praised Paige’s compassionate nature, highlighting her willingness to help anyone, even those she may not have personally favored.
The GoFundMe page dedicated to Paige’s memory echoed the sentiments of her loved ones. It described Paige as a vibrant and caring individual, always ready to lend a hand. Her family emphasized her kindness, fun-loving spirit, and the spunk she brought to every situation. From a young age, Paige displayed a zest for life and dedicated herself not only to the typical pursuits of a child but also to supporting her grandparents, parents, siblings, and friends.