An Irving couple, Joseph and Dorothy Dekat, won the 2010 St. Jude Dream Home Saturday night. Their winning ticket was drawn from among 7,000 others. The lucky pair spent Sunday morning admiring their $330,000 prize in The Fairways of Champions Circle in Fort Worth.
"It is nice," Joseph said. "Oh, man. It's almost like, put two of my houses in there."
The Dekats brought two of their daughters to see the biggest prize they've ever won. The empty nesters could use some company to share four bedrooms and three baths.
Just one $100 ticket was all it took.
"I probably decided to buy it, but I think she wrote the check out," Joseph said about his wife's lucky hand.
After winning a weekend trip to New York five years ago, the Dekats thought they wouldn't get that lucky again. But they tuned in to NBC 5 just to make sure.
"I just pretty much sat there just kind of amazed," Joseph said.
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Dorothy couldn't sleep Saturday night, but the next morning, she already was claiming closet and sink space in the master bathroom.
The Dekats would love to move in but they need to figure out if they can afford the property taxes and the upkeep.
"We don't entertain too much otherwise. But we could get started on it," Dorothy said.
Whether they keep it or sell it, the retirees still like imagining what they could do with all the space.
"Only in our dreams. This is pretty amazing," Dorothy said.
It could take a few weeks before the Dekats legally own the home. St. Jude will have them consult with its legal team and told the Dekats to hire a tax professional.
See the complete list of winners in the St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway by clicking here.
