Hello again! I decided to take a break from my genealogy blog
this Summer, and I thought the best way to start back at it again was to bring
you up to date on the developments from this past Spring. To recap, I was
genetically matched to a first cousin once removed, Tiffany Koerner, who was
trying to find out who her father was. You can read about that in the blog
posts from March and April.
In June I had the opportunity to meet her and some of her
newly found siblings! My mom and I planned a girls’ trip to Niagara Falls, and
it was while we were there that I had the chance to meet them. It was extra
special that my mom was with me. At one point she was sharing how happy she was
to be there for this special meeting “even though she wasn’t really family” (since I’m her adopted
daughter), and not just me, all of them, piped up that of course she was
family!!! It was heart-warming.
But I’m getting ahead of myself. When I told Tiffany that I
would be in town and wanted to meet her, she was happy to do so, and plans were
quickly hatched to meet at the Welland Canal Fallen Workers Memorial. This was
apt since she and I had previously talked about how we both wanted to visit it,
and even though we live very far apart we had said we should meet there some
day. Now here we were, making plans to do just that! When I arrived, I was
walking to my car after going into the info centre to ask a question, and I saw
a familiar face. Was that Tiffany’s brother? I hesitantly asked, “Are you Paul
Grant?” He replied “Debbie?” From there I met a
wonderful group of people, including Tiffany, who surprised me with
a gift. It was so thoughtful! A puzzle piece! How perfect is that? I am so glad
she has been able to fit all the pieces together and now has so many wonderful
people in her life.
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A picture of the first time we all met at the
Welland Canal Fallen Workers Memorial
June 2018
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We finally got to meet in person!
Myself and Tiffany
June 2018
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The keychain Tiffany gave me.
She used her dad's surname.
June 2018
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After spending some time at the memorial, we made plans to go
for lunch. Of course, it had to be at a Tim Horton’s! Tiffany’s first meeting
of a DNA match had been at a Timmies. And if I’m remembering correctly, she
also met another DNA match at a Timmies, as well. So, it seemed fitting that we
go there. It was a great day that, unfortunately, went by too quickly. I hope
to get back there for a longer visit again sometime.
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Lunch at Timmies!
June 2018
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But that’s not all I have to report on Tiffany! In August her
siblings threw her a surprise birthday party! They put so much thought and love
into it. I wasn’t able to attend in person, but was able to watch them surprise
her via video. They showered her with love, thoughtful gifts and a specialty
cake, detailed with all the things that are important to Tiffany.
Then in September, Tiffany had the opportunity to go to Nova
Scotia for a Grant reunion! She stayed with her Dad’s sister (who is also my
Grandpa’s sister), and it was such a joy for me to follow along by reading her
posts on Facebook. She met many family members and visited the location of her
Grandparents’ home. The home is no longer there, but she has a piece of rubble
from it as a souvenir.
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Tiffany in Nova Scotia holding a sign
her Grant relatives made for her.
September 2018
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Tiffany with her brother, Paul, in Nova Scotia
September 2018
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Tiffany with Aunt Shirley, her dad's sister
Nova Scotia, September, 2018
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It has been such a cool and enriching experience being
matched to her and subsequently having the honour of watching her connect with
her long, lost family. I hope to visit Nova Scotia some day and meet our
extended family. I had planned to go to Nova Scotia last year, however, I had
to cancel my plans. At the time I was really upset about it, but I am quite
happy it happened that way now! Tiffany has tread the path before me. It would
have been such a shame to have gone there before knowing about my family
members that live there, and the special places that I now know I need to see!
That’s all for now. I am in the process of analyzing DNA
matches so maybe I’ll have a post on that in the near future! Until next time,
happy hunting, fellow gene geeks!
