SALEM, OR (KPTV) -
Family, friends and community members said goodbye to the Salem family killed in what police call a murder-suicide at a memorial service Monday evening.
Several hundred people attended the memorial service at the Slavic Christian Church, even filling an overflow room.
The support has been invaluable for relatives of Nick and Natalya Lazukin and their three young daughters.
"My mother says if it wasn't for the parish, she could feel them, they are uplifting her, if it wasn't for the parish, she doesn't know how she'd be dealing with any of it," said Andrey But, Natalya Lazukin's brother. He said the family has heard from people across the country and internationally who have offered prayers.
Natalya Lazukin, 26, and her three young daughters, ages 3 years old, almost 2 years old and 4 months, were found dead inside the family's home last Tuesday. Husband and father Nick Lazukin was found dead later that day in a car in Cottage Grove. Police have said he is the only person of interest in the case and that he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Relatives of both Nick and Natalya Lazukin say they do not believe he is capable of those acts.
"Me and my wife were putting together the slide show that was played today for the past three days and just looking at all those pictures, how much he loved his family, all the things they did together, it's just incredible," said But. "I know, knowing him and seeing everything how their life was, it's just simply impossible that he would have done that."
The focus at Monday's memorial service was not on the deaths but on the positive memories with Nick, Natalya and their daughters.
"There's not much we can say in these times," said But. "All we can do is live with faith and know that the truth will come out one day. And we hope that day will come soon."
RELATED: Family of Nick Lazukin: 'It doesn't make sense'
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