Thursday, 27 September 2018

From Matching To Meeting: An Update On Tiffany Koerner



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.  
A picture of the first time we all met at the 
Welland Canal Fallen Workers Memorial
June 2018
We finally got to meet in person!
Myself and Tiffany
June 2018
The keychain Tiffany gave me.
She used her dad's surname.
June 2018
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.
Lunch at Timmies!
June 2018
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. 


Tiffany in Nova Scotia holding a sign
her Grant relatives made for her.
September 2018
Tiffany with her brother, Paul, in Nova Scotia
September 2018

Tiffany with Aunt Shirley, her dad's sister
Nova Scotia, September, 2018
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!







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