Painful task for Flight 3407 families

CLARENCE CENTER, N.Y. (WIVB) - It's a heartbreaking task for two women who lost their husbands on Flight 3407.

Friday night, News 4's Rob Macko joined Robin Tolsma and Jennifer West as they identified their husbands' final personal effects. It's another painful step for Robin Tolsma and Jennifer West.

Tolsma said, "I want to look at his shirt because if he was wearing it, I want to see how badly it is. That's it. That's all that's left."

With lists in hand, they go online to identify their husbands' personal effects recovered from the crash site in Clarence Center.

Tolsma said, "That's it. That's definitely his ring, yeah that's his ring. I wish you could see the inscription, but it's his ring."

Things we take for granted - clothing, baby pictures, and house keys - unleash emotions.

Darren Tolsma and Ernie West sat next to each other on Continental Flight 3407. They both worked at Northrop Grumman, a Williamsville defense contractor.

Tolsma said, "I couldn''t imagine going through any of this without her at this point. She's become more like a sister to me."

West said, "It meant everything. If I didn't have Robin, I don't know if I'd be strong enough to do this alone."

The women first met in January when they attended a company party with their husbands. They're now inseparable. They needed each other to get through this, and marvel at the fact some items weren't damaged.

After going through this process, they discover that some of the items listed on the computer do not belong to either of their husbands.

But they are still missing a few items, Darren's wallet, Ernie's watch, and Ernie's wedding ring, shown in a picture with their now two-year-old daughter Summer. That's hard for Robin.

Tolsma said, "For me, the hard part is knowing that it's there but knowing that Ernie's isn't there, mine won't feel right until I know Jennifer has Ernie's back."

West said, "I want everything of him back whether it's in pieces or fragments. I believe he would do the same for me."

The victims' families have 30 days to pick out which items they want delivered to them. A month or so after that, they'll get another list of items other families passed over, meaning this painful process will start all over again.