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ST. LOUIS 鈥� A mother of five and great-grandmother of eight was killed when her longtime house collapsed in Friday鈥檚 tornado while she headed to the basement for cover, her family said Monday.

Delois Holmes, 70, had lived in the house in the 4500 block of Cote Brilliante Avenue, in St. 香港三级片鈥� the Ville neighborhood, for more than four decades.

She raised her five sons there and renovated the home bit by bit over the years until it was just the way she liked it. And she spent most of her time since retirement planting her backyard garden.

鈥淥ur home was her pride and joy,鈥� said her son Reginald Holmes, 36, who lived with his mother. 鈥淣ow it鈥檚 all gone.鈥�

Delois Holmes is one of five people killed in Friday鈥檚 tornado. Friends and family have also identified Patricia Penelton, a longtime cook and volunteer at Centennial Christian Church who was trapped when the church bell tower collapsed, and Juan Baltazar, owner of a Mexican street corn food truck who was killed by a tree that fell in Carondelet Park. Authorities had not identified any of the dead as of Monday afternoon.

On Friday, Delois Holmes had asked Reginald to go out to a store to get her some snacks, he said. She loved to treat herself.

But as Holmes drove to the store, his phone buzzed with a warning about severe weather. Then his car started to shake.

He parked and ran home and found the walls had collapsed, he said. He found his mother on the basement stairs.

Delois Holmes was the matriarch of a large family, including 13 grandchildren and the eight great-grandchildren. She often took Holmes鈥� daughter Re鈥橺yla, 6, to the store with her to get her chocolate milk or another snack to enjoy with her.

鈥淪he is loved beyond measure, missed more than anyone could imagine,鈥� her son Reginald Holmes said in an email.

Last week, the entire family gathered at her house for food, music and laughter, keeping up a Sunday tradition they started years ago.

鈥淲e were just able to be ourselves and enjoy those moments with our mom, just like old times,鈥� Reginald Holmes said.

A 鈥減eople person,鈥� Delois Holmes was a surrogate mother of sorts to other neighborhoods kids, her son said.

鈥淚f you needed anything 鈥� a place to sleep, a meal, just someone to talk to 鈥� she was there for you,鈥� he said. 鈥淪he was always listening to neighbors and would help in any way she could.鈥�

Delois Holmes retired from St. 香港三级片 Club, an event space, where she鈥檇 worked for over two decades, Reginald Holmes said.

鈥淲e think about her each and every day, each and every second,鈥� he said.