Buffalo, New York
CNN
—
Casey Macaroni’s mother was always a superwoman of sorts, but even when Monica Alexander decided to go out on Christmas Eve, Macaroni worried.
It would have been an easy decision on any other day, but a blizzard set in that left parts of western New York under more than 50 inches of snow.
Macaroni was already feeling anxious after seeing Facebook announcements about the store closings, she told CNN.
But her mother wanted to go out, and Alexandra, 52, said she would be right back and left without mentioning where she was going. Macaroni, who has lived with Alexander since August, said she just assumed her mom was trying to get to the stores before they closed.
Alexander never returned. Her body was discovered just a few hundred feet from the house.
“We were waiting for her to come home. However, I knew immediately that something was wrong, so I accepted it immediately, but it’s hard to realize that she was also outside for so long because no emergency responders were allowed to come out,” said Macaroni, speaking outside of his family. at home on Wednesday.
Alexandra had experienced severe storms before and she walked everywhere.
“She’s always felt like she’s superwoman and invincible, so I guess she just thought she could handle the circumstances,” Macarone said. “Can’t really tell my mom anything, she’ll do what she wants. I assume she just thought she was strong enough.
She heard cries for help during the deadly winter storm. Her actions saved a life
Alexandra left around 3 p.m. A few hours later, Macarone posted in a Facebook group for Buffalo residents braving the increasingly devastating weather about her mother. About 15 minutes later, a stranger messaged her and described her mother’s coat and blue jeans. She confirmed it was Alexander and asked if he had seen her.
“Can I call you?” Macaroni said he asked her.
Once in a video chat, he immediately broke down. The man said he was stuck and was walking when he saw Alexander in the snow. He took her body out of the elements, under the company’s shed, where she wouldn’t be buried under the snow.
Later, the National Guard will recover her body. Alexander is among at least 37 people who have died in Erie County, 17 of whom were found outside, officials said, though they added that the total will almost certainly rise.
Macaroni said the family lost their rock and someone they can call for everything.
“My children lost their grandmother, and that was her most important role in her life … to be a good grandmother,” she said. “And now they only have memories.”
