Living some distance from your children and grandchildren can be a difficult experience, especially when something happens to your family.
Marlene Hofstetter of Monticello is feeling a great deal of frustration at the moment as her son and daughter-in-law, Holden residents Shane and Ann Geiser, and their three children begin the process of rebuilding their lives after the loss of their Balsam Drive home to fire on Jan. 4.
But Marlene has much to be grateful for, as well, since everyone in her family is safe thanks to the family dog, two passers-by and area firefighters.
Marlene e-mailed us with “a photo I took of Ally, taking a nap, on Christmas Day.”
Ten days later, “she woke my son” during that fire, “and she saved his life.
“Ally, Ronald Treat and Brooke Hardy are our heroes,” Marlene wrote, adding her heartfelt “thanks to all of the firefighters who braved subzero temperatures, in dangerous conditions, to help fight this fire.”
Marlene told me Shane had stayed home from work that day because he wasn’t feeling well and was asleep in the bedroom when Ally, a large yellow Labrador retriever, woke him with her barking.
The two escaped the fire by going out a window onto a porch and were rescued by Brooke, who had found an extension ladder, and Ronald, who climbed up the ladder to retrieve Ally and Shane.
Marlene calls Ally a “miracle dog,” not just for saving her master’s life, but because she is still part of the Geiser family.
Apparently they had taken her into Bangor some time ago and something spooked her and she ran away.
“They put up posters and checked with vets and looked for her for several days,” Marlene said.
Fortunately, Ally was found and returned to the family, and for a very good reason, Marlene now believes.
I spoke with Shane and learned the family is doing as well as can be expected under the circumstances. They are living in a cottage at the family-owned Loon Hollow on Fields Pond, and the children are back at school.
Shane is recovering from smoke inhalation and plans to rebuild.
The family lost basically everything, although they were able to save some photographs and some of Marlene’s artwork.
Shane wants everyone to know how much his family appreciates the support they have received “from the Holden community and people we barely know” who have given them everything from money to clothes to help them through this difficult time.
Shane told me that “members of the PTA sent home food, and the kids came home with brand-new video game systems. We really appreciate all the generosity shown to us.”
Back in Monticello, Marlene is doing her best to set aside things for the family that are difficult to replace.
As she stores her Christmas items, she’s packing several cases for Shane and Ann so “they will still have some handmade ornaments that my mother made over the years.”
“At least I can do this little thing for them.”
Marlene also said that Ann, who is an excellent cook, lost all her recipes in the fire.
“A lot were passed down from my family, which is Swiss, and then I’m sure her mother has given them to her too, so that is something we can get together on and help her out.
“You don’t always think about the little things like this” when a home is lost to fire, she added.
But in the end, thanks to Ally and those who came to the rescue, no lives were lost, and that’s the most important thing.
Joni Averill, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402; javerill@bangordailynews.com; 990-8288.