When Shirley Figueroa lived in another town just two years go, she took care of a tree she hoped would become the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree.

She and wife Lissette Gutierrez bought a house in Wallkill and that dream ended. At closing, when the previous homeowners said Rockefeller officials were interested in a tree on the property, Figueroa thought it was a joke.

Gutierrez had heard her talk about the tree at the old house.

Earlier today, family, friends and spectators came to watch the tree be cutdown. The couple found out in October the 72 foot tree was officially going to be picked. 
Figueroa was unaware that Rockefeller Center's head garderner had his eyes on the tree for a few years. When the couple was finally asked to donate the tree it was a resounding 'yes.' 
 
"Well I look for a nice, big shape. When I drove by the road on Route 32 there, I saw the top half of the tree, it was up over a little hill.  So I went down the road, turned around, came back, and about four or five years ago I saw it and thought, 'that would be a nice tree,'" said Erik Pauze, Rockefeller Center head gardener.
 
But the couple is still processing the information.

"I'm still in shock and I have all these mixed emotions going on. [I do feel sadness because] she's such a beautiful tree and she took up so much space. It's going to be empty here without her," said the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree donator. 

The property owners are sad to see the tree leave, but happy it will go towards an honored tradtion, then repurposed into building materials for local homes through Habitat For Humanity.

It will take two days to get the tree to New York City. The couple will be at Rockefeller Center when the tree is put up, and for the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony on November 28.