HAVANA, Fla. (WTXL) — The Herzfeldt family lived in their Havana home for 12 years before it went up in flames last week. While they're thankful that no one was hurt, they've lost 70 years of memories.
Jo Herzfeldt was asleep when her house went up in flames, but luckily her husband, Butch was awake.
"If he had not been awake and smelled the smoke and come and got me," said Jo. "If we both had been in bed, we wouldn't have made it."
"Nah," Butch said, "probably not."
"We had all the things that were precious to us as we grew up," Jo said.
Along with cherished, irreplaceable possessions, the Herzfeldt's daughter, Darlean Hunkar, lost something very important.
"My dress got burned down too, along with all of my wedding stuff," said Hunkar.
Hunkar was supposed to get married in April, but decided to postpone the wedding because of the coronavirus.
"I want to see my whole family here," Hunkar said. "I don't want to do the 10 people. I know it's better to have the distancing, but I'd rather just put off the wedding until we can have the dream wedding that we want. It's like a three double whammy on me."
While the entire family is saddened by the sudden loss, the one thing they are most thankful for is each other.
"It happens," said Hunkar. "Just glad they're alive, we're alive, that's all that matters."
"We can replace most of this," Jo said. "But what you get from your family and your friends, in your heart and from their heart, and those are way more important."
The Herzfeldt family says they are also extremely thankful for the quick response from their fire department.
The Herzfeldt family had insurance on their home, but not on the items inside the home.
Their children have set up a gofundme account in an effort to raise extra money to help with unexpected costs.
