Foul play has been ruled out in the death of an 87-year-old Sandys woman in a house fire on Tuesday morning.

Grace Cross was found trapped in a smoke-filled house by one of her sons just before 10 a.m. on Tuesday.

He ran to the construction site across the street for help. Three men returned with him to the house and tried to break the windows to reach Ms Cross who was in the back of the house.

The fire, however, overwhelmed the men so they called the Port Royal Fire Department who responded immediately and put out the fire in 15 minutes.

Ms Cross was found unconscious and CPR was performed until an ambulance transported her to the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital where she was pronounced dead at 11.51 a.m.

Yesterday Sandys North PLP MP Michael Scott said he was saddened of the loss and expressed his condolences to her family.

He said: "I begin with the offer of my sincere expression of sympathy to Ms. Cross' children and her wider family.

"As a Somerset resident Ms Grace Cross was always one of the many women influences of the local young ladies and men of Somerset of the 1950s, 60s and 70s guiding us to becoming men and women of purpose.

"By her own example we were mentored by her counsel and voice. We were guided by her good character."

Sandys North Central MP Dennis Lister offered condolences on behalf of his family and said the community remained in shock.

"We were all saddened by the news. The Cross family has been a very well-known family in the community for a long time," said Mr. Lister.

"Ms Cross was a matron of her family - a respected member of the community, very strong in her church. It's sad to hear we've lost anyone in such a manner, particularly her being such a nice person."

The circumstances surrounding Ms Cross' death were originally pronounced as suspicious by Police with a spokesperson saying Tuesday afternoon that foul play had not been ruled out.

Yesterday, however, a source at the fire department said her death and the fire were no longer being treated as suspicious, but could offer no explanation for what started the fire.

Ms Cross, who was a mother of three men, one of whom had lived with her, regularly spent her days growing and tending to her flowers.

She was especially known for her violets, that one of her first cousin's said were her speciality.

Also extending their condolences to Ms Cross' family and friends yesterday was the Bermuda Police Service and Mr. Scott added that he had only recently seen Ms Cross.

He said: "I had the chance to see Ms Cross at Allen Temple AME Church on Sunday. She was donning a beautiful pink suit and like all AME ladies she wore a beautiful hat.

"We spoke and I gave her a warm hug and kiss as we greeted one another. I am sad beyond measure that this exchange of greeting was my final word with her.

"May Ms Cross rest in peace."