(NEWS 12 NJ/CNN) - A 68-year-old woman who relied on an oxygen tank powered by electricity to breathe, died Thursday afternoon seven hours after her family claims the Public Service Enterprise Group cut off service to her home.
"I knew that she (would) eventually pass because of her condition but I didn't know that because the lights went off, that she would suffer the way she did," said one family member.
"We were getting ice and we put ice on her, fanning her trying to make it cool, but we couldn't pump the oxygen," said another family member.
Linda Daniels had been in hospice care with congestive heart failure since the middle of April. Her family said she was in good spirits but relied on her oxygen tank to breathe. The hospice nurse said Daniels would pass in God's time.
She said she believed she went to heaven.
Daniels’ two children and granddaughter said they don't know why the utility company turned the power off.
There was a delinquent balance on their account but they were trying to pay it down
"(We paid) the minimum at least $300 every month (and) the prior month was $300. Last month was $400. This month I gave (them) $500 and they still cut off the utilities," said her son Sam.
Sam said he paid $500 on July 3 just two days before the shut off.
Sam said there was no notice from the utility company
“If there was anything in the mail, we may have missed it due to all the complications running back and forth to the hospital and the doctors appointments," Sam said.
Power was back on Friday morning.
The grieving family still had no explanation.
"Upset, angry because I think you know my mom would probably still been alive today if they'll be cut off," Sam said.
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