Joanne Lowenstern was only sixteen years old when she found out she was adopted.
Her adoptive parents broke the news to her in 1954. She learned that two days after she was born, her biological mother had died.
Even though she knew it was something she had to accept, Joanne still felt like there was a huge part of her that was missing.
The 80-year-old’s daughter-in-law, Shelley Loewenstern, confirms this.
“She was in pain, and I could see it. She was always saying ‘I don’t know where I’m from.”
Every time Joanne attempted to find out more about her real mother, her attempts would always prove futile.
That’s when Shelley decided to do something about the little information they had about Joanne’s real mother.
Only armed with the woman’s real name, Lillian Feinsilver, Shelley signed up at Ancestry.com. Coincidentally, a man named Samson Ciminieri had also created an account and submitted his DNA.
Shortly after, Shelley received a notification about a “hit.”
Samson recalls,
“She asked me if I knew a Lillian Feinsilver. I said, ‘Yes, that’s my mother.’”
That’s when Shelley realized she was conversing with Joanne’s half-brother.
As if that wasn’t amazing enough, Samson shared more good news to Shelley: that their mother was still alive and was living only 80 minutes away from Joanne the entire time.
As more information was pieced together, Shelley learned that both Joanne and her mom were misinformed about each other, each told that the other passed away when Joanne was born.
Lillian’s caretaker even remembers the instances where Lillian would fondly talk about the daughter she thought she had lost.
It’s amazing how technology brings people together, no matter how many decades have passed.
Thanks to the amazing discovery, Joanne and her mother are able to learn more about each other and spend time together.
Things were a bit awkward at first but it didn’t take long for the reunited mom and daughter to warm up to each other.
Joanne enthuses,
“I look like her, the eyes … I knew that she was my mother.”
What a sight to see two seniors catching up and bonding!
While this was quite an unusual time for mother and daughter to be making up for lost time, the moments shared were nothing short of magical. It didn’t matter that they lived almost their whole lives apart.
What mattered was that they were together now.
Joanne’s son, Elliot, fondly shares,
“They didn’t get to color together when she was a little girl, but it’s never too late to color with your mom.”
Joanne is beyond overjoyed at finally meeting her real mom and encourages others to do the same.
“Children should know that if they want to find their roots, they shouldn’t be afraid to do it.”
If you’re feeling stuck with little information about your biological parents, trust that in time, you’ll find the answers you’re looking for. Joanne’s story proves that it’s never too late and that things always work out in the end.
Check out the heartwarming reunion below.
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