New Jersey siblings continue mom’s lottery tradition, split $20 million win

The Endreson siblings are making mom proud.

Flossie Endreson had always dreamed of winning the lottery and splitting the jackpot with her 19 children.

Since her death in 2004, Flossie's children have carried on her tradition of playing the lottery, using the money leftover from a funeral collection to keep a family lottery pool going.

On Thursday, Sigrid Endreson, one of Flossie's daughters, purchased a $1 lottery ticket in the New Jersey Pick-6 Lotto. She won $20.1 million.

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The 17 surviving siblings, ranging in age from 53 to 76, will split the lump-sum payout of $$14,158,641. (After taxes, this will be about $10 million.)

The children of a recently deceased brother will also receive some of the money.

"It couldn't have come at a better time, it really couldn't," said daughter Marie McHenry.

"We buy our own lottery tickets with our new families, the new generation, so to speak," she added. "So we're not thinking of this family lottery except a few times a year when we pop in and say, 'Here's another $20 for the family lottery.' We're just thrilled we can help family members, help our churches. It's a good thing at a good time."

Two of the siblings plan on using their winnings to help repair damage done by 2012's Superstorm Sandy.

“There were three or four family members that have lost their homes in Sandy,” McHenry said at a press conference.

Thirteen of the siblings live in Ocean County, New Jersey, an area hit hard by the storm.

"It was quite tough. And believe me when I say this, the hardest part was seeing other people that were devastated," sibling John Endreson told NJ.com. "I was able to redo my house and to help my family, my brothers. I was quite fortunate and I just feel so lucky. And this was just the icing on the cake. I depleted my savings, and now things are looking up pretty good thanks to the state of New Jersey and my mom."

"You just can't even imagine the feeling. I think I just went into instant shock," one of the siblings, Faith Schibor, said of learning about the lottery win. "Everyone's really hurting, and this is going to help everyone. And it's going to help Ocean County, because most of us still live there."

McHenry's immediate plans for her newfound wealth are simple:

"My husband and I are going to pack two suitcases, throw them into the trunk of our car and just drive down the coast to all of the best places to eat fresh seafood," she said.