derse

Audrey was born 17 February, 1929 in Milwaukee, her adoptions took place on 26 October, 1936.

Linda contacted Diane of I.C.A.R.E. and said, "These two women have only one living sibling left. Their oldest sister Lucille has been searching for them for over 61 years. Any help is greatly appreciated."

Lucille & Nancy

Lucille & Nancy
Linda in yellow shorts.

Nancy & Lucille

Lucille and Nancy met for the first time in over 61 years on May 10, 1997. This is a day that will be remembered fondly by all

Within hours of starting the search for Arlene and Audrey, Diane and Mary of I.C.A.R.E. had found Arlene, now known as Harriet - living in Arizona. Little did Linda know, it would only be a matter of a couple of weeks before Diane and Mary would find Audrey (Nancy). This would make the circle complete for Linda and her aunt Lucille, and new found aunt Arlene (Harriet).

Here is Linda's recollection of the events following the phone call to her - to tell her of the find:

"I don't even know where to start??? So here it goes. First I called Harriet & told her who I was & that I have been looking for her for 16 years, but that she has a older sister Lucille who has been looking for her for 61 years.

I didn't talk about her parents at all. I did tell her who all her siblings were, when they were born & when they died. We found out that her middle name was never changed & neither was her birth date. She shared with me were she lived, who her children were. She told me that she moved from Racine to Milwaukee in 1952. Come to find out she didn't live too far from her oldest sister Lucille, which Lucille always felt she was near by. She moved to Phoenix about 10 years ago.

We talked about genetics, her asking if there were any allergies. I told her that I didn't think so, & said we shouldn't talk too long because her sister that hadn't seen her in 61 years is waiting to talk to her.

I called Lucllie's daughter to make sure that Lucille' s heart was up to this good news. The daughter put Lucllie & myself on a conference call.

When I told my aunt Lucllie that I found Arlene she just started to cry. I told Lucille about the things that weren't changed & the first name being changed. So we all would have to get use to calling her Harriet. I also told her that Harriet named her youngest son Donald which was my fathers name. (That would have been Harriet's brother). The biggest thing that blew me away was how much Harriet & Lucille sound alike on the telephone.

Well after sharing that information with Lucille I asked her if she was ready to talk to her sister?

She started to cry again & said, yes I have been waiting for this a long time. So I put them in touch with one another. I told Lucille that I would call her back later to find out how everything went.

They found out they had a lot of things in common, that they lived close to each other in Milwaukee for awhile. They were both so HAPPY.

I asked Harriet if she remembered anything from her childhood before she was adopted, she remembered 3 things, the only one that sticks out in my mind (because we tried to cover 10 million miles in a half an hour) was an old farm house. We will get that one figured out.

Harriet has told all her children about her new found family & they are putting the money together so she can come to Wisconsin in summer, when Lucille will be here, to meet each other. I hope we will find Audrey for that reunion.

In the mean time we are all putting packages together to send to each other to fill in all of those years.

I will be here to answer any questions she may have. I am overwhelmed with all of this. I knew she was out there. I can't imagine what might be going through her mind.

By the way Lucille called Harriet because she was at her son's house that night, but the cute thing is Harriet called Lucille back the next morning and said in a very quiet voice, "this is Arlene." I thought that was so sweet.

It is great to know that I have four more cousins & they seem very happy to find out they have cousins also.

Linda - Meeting Her Aunt Nancy

I arrived at Aunt Nancy's house and her son Paul was outside. I asked if Nancy lived here, and he said yes.

OH! OH! We hugged, kissed and cried and we did it again and again.... The next five minutes or so were a fog for me, and I am sure for everyone else including her seven children that were there for all of our family reunion.

You see, I just got 10 new cousins and they got a lot more than they ever knew they had. These wonderful children of Aunt Nancy's grew up all their lives with only two cousins.

Aunt Nancy sat down; she and I hugged and kissed some more. I know all of us could not believe that this day was finally here.

Aunt Nancy knew that she had brothers and sisters. She didn't know what their names were. Well, maybe somewhere she might have thought about it, because she named two of her sons the same names as both of her brothers.

Aunt Nancy introduced all of my new found cousins to me, along with all of their children that was there. (I was the only one at the advantage, because I have known all of these other cousins all my life). I was just looking at everyone very stunned, I could not believe how much Aunt Nancy's children looked like some of my brothers; her daughters look so much like Aunt Lucille's daughters.

When I walked in, I gave Aunt Nancy flowers, but my real gift to her was her birth name "HOYT" genealogy family book. I had her birth family back to the year 1530. There were several of people looking at it. Good thing I made two copies!

I have to say - this is one of the warmest families I have seen in a long time. When I left, I felt like I knew all of these people all of my life.

At some point, I started telling Aunt Nancy when her birth parents had passed away, and when her two brothers (one being my father) had died also. I brought out one page of pictures of Aunt Nancy's birth family and there was no need to go any further at that time. We sure gave lots of hugs and kisses.

At this point, we all began sharing all of our family pictures. We also started taking pictures. I think there were more cameras than people. Aunt Nancy's grandchildren were so wonderful. You could see that they had a lot of love for one another.

Talking with Aunt Nancy, I found out she had gone to the same Junior High and High School that I did. (Although, there was 30 years difference). Aunt Nancy's children were in the same High School as I was, at the same time. Can you imagine cousins in the same school at the same time, and not knowing that we were cousins?! That was a long time ago, and I don't remember all the names in school, and I am sure they don't either as it was a big school.

We talked about where everyone lived growing up, and my thoughts were what a small world. When Aunt Nancy's children was young and I was young - we only lived a mile from each other. So close but yet so far away.

Together Again! After 61 Years!