THE family of Rutherford great grandmother Yolanda Velasquez say they "couldn't be more over the moon" she is on home soil after seven months in the Philippines.
Mrs Velasquez's daughter Natalie Alcova said her mum, 83, landed in Sydney on August 20 and is in mandatory quarantine in a Darling Harbour hotel.
They speak regularly on Facetime and the family has organised deliveries of extra food and supplies.
"She's good and feeling really well," Mrs Alcova said.
"We are very, very, very relieved - we couldn't be more over the moon. It just seemed like it was not ever going to end."
The Newcastle Herald reported earlier this month that Mrs Velasquez had travelled to the Philippines at the start of February to spend time with her siblings.
She was scheduled to return on April 22. The family tried to book her an earlier flight on March 25, but it was cancelled.
She was booked on or put on a waitlist for Philippine Airlines (PAL) flights on June 26, July 10, August 1 and August 14, but was either unsuccessful or the flights were cancelled.
She received an e-ticket for a July 24 flight, but "couldn't be accommodated".
Mrs Alcova said her family persisted with PAL, which kept them up to date and emailed Mrs Velasquez on August 13 to advise her booking had been transferred to a new August 19 flight.
Mrs Alcova said she understood the 45 passengers had been prioritised due to their vulnerability, or being moved from earlier flights.
"We were expecting anything and everything. I was on the phone with her until 30 minutes before boarding."
Mrs Alcova said the family had cleaned Mrs Velasquez's house and started planning their first home cooked meal together again.
