The Zerebeski family Christmas wouldn’t usually involve food donations and hospital visits, but this year’s circumstances were unluckier than most.

Jan, Murray and their 15-year-old twins Nick and Matt lost their Eckville farm house and everything inside it one week before Christmas, and complications from a pre-blaze knee surgery kept Murray in the hospital until after Boxing Day.

“We did the best we could on Christmas Day. The important thing for Christmas for us was being together and getting Murray home. We can celebrate Christmas every day now that we’re safe and alive,” said Jan.

The fire, which remains under investigation, began in the early morning of Dec. 18 and engulfed the entire house. Jan and her children made it out safely but their dog Ola didn’t.

As well, a car accident left her without transportation and Murray had to go back into the operating room for knee surgery, round two. The family wound up spending Christmas day shuttling between a double-wide trailer they’ve moved into and Murray’s hospital room.

“My kids were born there and we shared a lot of family memories with my parents and Murray’s parents. I lost a lot of things they left me that were very special,” said Jan.

Still, she said things are looking up after the community stepped up during their time of need, and her husband is finally out of the hospital and back in his interim home.

“The love and support of the Eckville community has been overwhelming, as well as friends from Sylvan Lake,” she said.

The Sylvan Lake Seventh-day Adventist Church, Withrow Church, Eckville Junior and Senior High School, Fox Creek School, local businessman Gary Moe, friends and family have all stepped in, providing the Zerebeskis with cash, transportation, gift cards and Christmas food for the holiday season.

“I can’t find the words to say how thoughtful everyone has been, and offered to do anything they can,” said Jan.

A benefit concert and family dance is also planned for New Year’s Eve.

Diana Tubbs, one of the organizers and a friend of the family, said donations for the event’s silent auction have been impressive.

Items including a week’s vacation in Fairmont and a Russian-made hockey stick autographed by Don Cherry (one of only 80 in existence) will all go towards helping the Zerebeskis rebuild.

“It’s coming along. It’s a very slow process, but it’s getting pieced back together,” said Tubbs.

Jan said she’s not sure when the process will be complete.

“We just don’t know yet, it’s too soon to know if we’re going to live in the same foundation. Nothing will occur until the spring or summer when we can go through everything here,” she said.

The benefit concert takes place in the Eckville Community Centre on Wednesday at 8 p.m. Tickets are $7 per person or $30 per family, or $5 per person and $20 per family if appetizers and deserts are brought. An account for donations has also been opened at the Eckville Credit Union. For more information or to make a donation, phone 403-348-1238 or 403-896-2725.

Contact Paige Aarhus at paarhus@reddeeradvocate.com