A community in the Upper Ottawa Valley has banded together to create a new home for a family struck by tragedy.

More than 30 businesses in the Petawawa area have donated time, money and materials to tear down a house with painful memories, to make way for a brand new home.

"It's just so amazing that so many people that don't even know our family have come together to build a new life for my mother," said Karisma Pietersma.

Karisma and her children were home the night of June 28th, 2013 when her father, Danny, was killed during a home invasion. Her mother, Sharlene, was brutally injured and left clinging to life.

Sharlene couldn't bring herself to attend the demolition, so she asked her son to deliver a statement on her behalf.

"We lived and raised our family here and you, the community, are making it possible to return to this place without the horror of that day in June," Sharlene said through a statement delivered by her son, Dustin.

Family and members of the community gathered Thursday at the home in Petawawa Point to tear down the old house. They made speeches, and one final tour of the home before the roof came down.

"I wanted to make it better for her," said Ted Kent, the owner and operator of Kent Constructions. "Even if it just makes it better for her, just a little bit, it's better than what she has now."

The owners were unable to sell the house after the incident, so the family approached Kent's company to renovate it. Instead, he decided to gather donations to build a new home without the painful memories.

The house is expected to be finished by the Spring.

Sharlene's only request was to have her bedroom painted blue, the color of her late husband's eyes.

Anyone looking to donate to the "Bring Sharlene Home" fund can do so by quoting ACCT # 34002-004-6346922 at any TD Bank in Canada.