The wait for loved ones to return home is over for a grieving Kilbride family now that St. John’s Airport has resumed commercial flight operations.

The loss of a loved one is one of the most difficult things a family can face. The pain felt after Paddy Holden of Kilbride passed away on Sunday, was compounded by recent events in St. John’s.

Some of his family members, living outside the province, were unable to reunite at home due to the state of emergency.

Holden’s daughter Kelly says the restrictions put in place following the record breaking snow fall made it impossible to be with her siblings during a time when a family has to pull together.

Holden was at the airport yesterday as the first commercial flight touched down in nearly a week. She says it will be a great relief to have everyone together again as they mourn the loss of their family’s patriarch but she admits the prolonged wait has been challenging.