One month later: finding hope and healing after the fire
Della Watkins lost her home on Rockton Road, but you can help her recover.
A month after a fire destroyed her home of 33 years, Della Watkins of Roscoe, IL is still navigating the loss. The flames on Jan. 7, 2025 took everything —her belongings, the only photos she had of her late parents and brothers, and two of her beloved dogs, Ashja and Odin.
“I never thought I wouldn’t be able to walk back inside,” she said.
She had time to rescue Max, her late brother’s puppy, and Koa, her 11-year-old dog from her two-story home on East Rockton Road —but smoke and locked doors trapped Ashja and Odin inside. She pleaded with firefighters to break down the door, but she already knew it was too late.
“I keep thinking about the look Ashja gave me before I went into that room,” she said softly. “Like she knew.”
The fire department determined that the fire started from an outlet that had never been used in the 33 years that Della lived there.
A life rebuilt from loss
Losing her home is just the latest hardship in a string of unimaginable losses. In the last five years, Della lost all three of her brothers—one to sudden cancer, one to a motorcycle accident, and one after a three-year battle with cancer, during which she was his sole caregiver.
Caring for him took a toll on her own health. Doctors later discovered she had sepsis, an infection that nearly killed her. As soon as she recovered, she was diagnosed with cancer herself.
Surgeries. Radiation. Recovery.
She fought through it all.
Just as she was preparing for long-awaited hip surgery to restore her mobility, the fire took what little peace she had left.
Moving forward, with support
Della isn’t rebuilding her home—insurance will only cover a fraction of the $600,000 cost—but she hopes to find a small house where her dogs can run and play.
“I just need something simple,” she said. “That’s all I want.”
She has been overwhelmed by the kindness of strangers. Neighbors have offered clothing, people she’s never met have sent heartfelt letters, and Blain’s Farm and Fleet raised $500 to help her purchase basic necessities—things she didn’t realize she needed until they were gone.
“I can’t believe how many people have reached out,” she said. “Even people I don’t know. It’s kept me going.”
Still, uncertainty lingers. She isn’t sure where she’ll go after February 28, but she is relying on faith and the generosity of those around her.
“I don’t know where I’d be without the people who have helped,” she said. “Their kindness is what’s keeping me strong.”
How you can help
- When: Sunday, March 2, 2025, from 2 to 6 p.m.
- Where: Beloit VFW (2711 S. Afton Rd., Beloit, WI 53511)
- What: Bake sale, meat raffle, basket raffle, and a 50/50 raffle
Donations can also be made through her GoFundMe, started by her lifelong best friend, Diana Ronan.
Every donation, every kind word, and every show of support makes a difference. Let’s show Della that she’s not alone.
