Coombrae Home resident Naomi Jensen, 87, was already contemplating a move to Coombrae Village when a devastating house fire brought her to the home instead.
In October Naomi was outside her Sanson house saying goodbye to friends when her home of 50 years caught fire and all her possessions began to go up in smoke.
“I would have been burned to cinders if I’d gone back inside,” she says. “God was watching over me.”
Naomi thought she’d lost everything but due to a happy coincidence she not only has a cozy new place to live, she has also been reunited with copies of her precious photos
Aucklander David Simpson was clearing out under his late mother-in-law’s house and found an old railway chest of family photographs with the name Jensen inscribed on the back.
He knew most of the photos were from the Manawatū area, where his wife Prue’s family came from, and then he saw the article about the Naomi’s house fire. He recognised Naomi instantly from the wedding photo.
The family connection was revealed when they discovered that Prue’s great-grandfather’s nephew was Naomi’s late husband.
Naomi was delighted when Prue and David visited and united her with her treasured photos.
“I’m so grateful to them,” says Naomi. “It is such a joy to have my pictures with me.”
They now hang in pride of place and she keeps a pinboard full of all the news articles about the fire, in her new room at Coombrae Home.
“I couldn’t wish for better here,” she says. “I feel so cared for. It’s wonderful!”
