Healthcare Worker Killed in Nursing Home Explosion Left Behind Children and Legacy of Care
Image sources: app.com, Habitat Bucks
The nursing community is mourning the loss of Muthoni Nduthu, a healthcare worker who was killed in a deadly explosion at Bristol Health & Rehab Center, formerly known as Silver Lake Nursing Home, in Bristol Township, Pennsylvania.
The explosion occurred shortly after 2 p.m. on December 23, 2025, while crews from PECO Energy were on site responding to reports of a gas odor. The blast triggered a fire, caused a partial building collapse, and injured more than 20 people. Two women were killed, including Nduthu, who was working inside the facility at the time. The cause of the explosion remains under investigation.
Nduthu served as a healthcare worker, though her exact role is uncertain, at Bristol Health & Rehab Center, a role that puts caregivers on the front lines, providing hands-on support to residents during long shifts and often responding to emergencies and unforeseen situations. Her passing has left a profound impact on colleagues, patients, families, and the wider Bucks County healthcare community.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro acknowledged the loss during a press conference following the explosion. “For those families who are about to celebrate Christmas with an empty chair at their table, we ask for a moment of prayer and reflection,” he said.
Nduthu was 52 years old and a mother of three.
More than a decade ago, Nduthu’s determination and work ethic drew local attention when she partnered with Habitat for Humanity of Bucks County to build and purchase a home for herself and her sons.
In October 2013, Nduthu and her children, Clinton, Joseph, and Kaumu, celebrated the dedication of their new home on Watson Avenue in Bristol. At the time, she was working full time, attending school, and raising her boys while completing Habitat’s required “sweat equity.” The program requires future homeowners to work alongside volunteers to help build their homes.
Speaking at the dedication, Nduthu emphasized the effort involved in achieving homeownership through the program. “This is not a giveaway program. You have to work so hard, and I hope that everyone realizes the work that Habitat does and what it means to so many people,” she said.
Habitat for Humanity combines affordable mortgages with hands-on labor to help families build long-term stability, an approach that aligned with Nduthu’s commitment to balancing work, education, and family responsibilities.
For nurses, Nduthu’s story reflects a familiar reality. Many healthcare workers juggle demanding schedules, continuing education, and caregiving at home, all while showing up each day for patients who rely on them.
As investigators continue to determine what caused the explosion, colleagues and community members are remembering Nduthu not only for how she died, but for how she lived. She was a caregiver, a student, a mother, and a homeowner who earned stability for her family through perseverance and hard work.
Her loss is a reminder of the risks healthcare workers can face simply by showing up to care for others, and of the lasting impact they leave behind.
May she rest in peace 💜
