Monson tornado victims return home for Christmas

MONSON, Mass. (WWLP) - Saturday was a very special day in the lives of Monson tornado victims Robin and Rosemarie Deland.

22News has followed their progress toward fulfilling their dream to move into their new home before Christmas.

The Deland's moved into their new home built at the site of where falling trees had destroyed their home of 20 years on the day of that terrible twister on June 1st, 2011.

The Delands had never given up hope they'd be home in time for Christmas.

“It's been like holding your breath for 18 months. and finally now, and now finally being able to breath. That's exactly what it's like,” said Rosemarie Deland.

It's partly because of Karen King and her Street Angels volunteers that the Deland's dream came true this weekend. Since the day the tornado tore through Western Massachusetts, the Street Angels have been at work helping their neighbors.

“Well we had 245 affected properties in Monson, and for days we had no way of communicating with our residents to see what they needed,” said Karen King of the Monson Street Angels.

“They all came and they painted my house. It didn't take long and so many people here, but it was wonderful to have all that support,” said Rosemarie Deland.

While the family's grateful to be back home for Christmas, the stark landscape just outside their windows will forever be a reminder of that terrible day in June, 2011.

“We were surrounded by trees. You could Google us and you could barely make out that our house was there. There were so many trees,” said Robin Deland.

But now the Deland family has joined the growing family of Western Massachusetts tornado victims who've over come their obstacles and have come home.