Nov. 4, 1989. It's tragic day that Diana Stento will never forget.

It was on that day that her daughter, Danielle, a senior at Buffalo University, was struck by a drunk driver while walking with friends, leaving her with lifelong, critical injuries.

Now at 53, her life has never been the same.

Diane spent years trying to cope, but as she makes a bed for a local family, she’s carrying on her daughter’s passion for helping others.

It was 20 years ago when her and her husband opened Danielle House, a hospitality home for families visiting loved ones in nearby hospitals.

“It was really very inspirational, but something that was just inside of you, like there’s something else we should be doing and here we are,” said Diane, executive director of Danielle House.

Angels fill the eight-bedroom home, which is a common thank-you gift from families staying at Danielle House, and they’ve gotten a lot of thank you's.

But the over 3,000 families that have stayed over the past 20 years will tell you those aren’t the only angels in the home.

With their location right across the street from Lourdes Hospital, Stento and her volunteers are taking a huge burden away from traveling families.

“It’s so reassuring, and not only to the guests, our families, but also to the person who’s hospitalized to know their loved one is close and safe. That’s a huge part of their healing also. They don’t need that added stress,” said Stento.

Following dozens of sleepless nights at a Buffalo hospital, a family took Diane and her husband in while their daughter was receiving treatment.

It was years later than the couple wanted to pay it forward, and what better way than to give families going through a similar time than a place to stay in the Southern Tier?

“Every family that stays here, they feel they get so much from us, but I believe and certainly all of our staff and volunteers believe, we get just as much from them, and certainly as Danielle’s family, we are so blessed, and it healing for our family that from this horrible tragedy, much good has come," said Stento.

The Stento family started a run/walk in Danielle’s name to support local school programs. Since it launched, it’s raised over $400,000.

Danielle was set to become a teacher at the end of her semester.