NJ neighbors surprise kids who lost their father with fully decorated house

MAGNOLIA, New Jersey (WPVI) — “My husband Jerry was a ginormous presence. Such a contented man,” stated his spouse, Lori Belum. “He did every little thing for us. And he simply beloved Christmas.”

The Belums have been married in 2010 and had two sons, Benjamin and Sammy. Each boys love enjoying flag soccer and their dad beloved supporting them much more.

However the day after Thanksgiving, proper after Benjamin scored the game-winning landing, an unbelievable tragedy occurred on the sidelines.

“He simply collapsed… and that was it,” stated Lori Belum. “A ruptured aortic dissection is what they known as it and it is just about immediate dying.”

The Belums leaned on their household and neighbors within the aftermath. In some ways, they nonetheless do not know the best way to transfer on. However they did know a technique of honoring their beloved husband and father.

The Belums took a visit to New York Metropolis to see Rockefeller Plaza, one thing they’d deliberate to do with Jerry only a week previous to his dying. And whereas they have been away, neighbors set to work planning one thing particular.

“I feel I labeled it within the group chat, ‘Mission Illumination’,” stated neighbor Tracy Clancy.

The Belum’s exterior Christmas decorations had already been unpacked. Jerry was planning to embellish the day he died. However neighbors huddled up to verify his intentions got here to gentle.

“We wished to do what Jerry had beforehand finished to the home,” stated neighbor Evan Zavatone, “However a bit completely different as a result of you realize it will probably’t be the very same.”

Utilizing {a photograph} of Jerry’s decorations final yr, the neighbors accomplished the home to near-perfection.

And upon returning dwelling from New York, the Belums have been shocked.

“Who did it?”

“Did Santa’s helpers come by?”

“They may have!”

These voices echoed from the backseat of the automobile in a video taken upon arrival. And the Belums now have a bit extra gentle to information their approach by means of life with out Jerry.

“We’ll be collectively on Christmas and speak about him and get by means of it,” stated Lori Belum. “It will be onerous, however we’ll do it and we’ll giggle and we’ll cry and you realize, we’ll be okay. Proper?”

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