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Strangers to sisters: Abbotsford neighbours discover they are related

DNA research leads to discovery that acquaintances have the same father
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ShaynaB次元官网网址檚 sister Katrina (shown here in a recent pic) will be attending the family reunion later this month. (Submitted)

For years, Shayna Davison would go on a daily walk from her home at the Blue Ridge apartments on Tessaro Crescent in Abbotsford.

On those regular strolls, Davison would pass by a neighbouring house and engage in small talk with a friendly woman who resided there.

TheyB次元官网网址檇 say hello to each other, talk about the weather and give attention to DavisonB次元官网网址檚 dog.

Both women told The B次元官网网址 that something drew them to each other on those chance encounters, a sense of closeness seemed to naturally occur between the pair, but it was never anything more than two acquaintances briefly chatting.

Years later as a pandemic raged on and COVID-19 forced many people into their homes, Davison received a Facebook message from her older sister saying, B次元官网网址淪issy, we need to talk.B次元官网网址

Moments later Davison entered a FaceTime chat with her sister and another woman, who she quickly recognized as the same person she would encounter on Tessaro Crescent. What her sister said next changed DavisonB次元官网网址檚 life forever.

B次元官网网址淪issy, this is our sister,B次元官网网址 she said.

It was during that conversation when it was revealed that DavisonB次元官网网址檚 niece had submitted her DNA for ancestry research and made a number of remarkable discoveries. DavisonB次元官网网址檚 father had an entire separate family and had children with another woman before meeting their mother.

Davison and her sisters had never known they had three other half-sisters - one of whom was Beth Davison - the very same woman that she had interacted with so many years ago on Tessaro Crescent. Neither Beth nor Shayna had any idea their new half-sister had lived in the same city for so many years, or that they had spoken many times before.

B次元官网网址淲e did recognize each other and I just kind of said, B次元官网网址楬i, nice to meet you,B次元官网网址 B次元官网网址 Shayna said, laughing as she recalled the unique introduction. B次元官网网址淲e instantly noticed we had a lot in common, we like the same music, we both love animals and to laugh at our sisters. WeB次元官网网址檝e only known each other for a few weeks but we are already finishing each otherB次元官网网址檚 sentences.B次元官网网址

They went on to discover their father had three children apiece with their mothers. ShaynaB次元官网网址檚 full siblings are Katrina and April, BethB次元官网网址檚 are Rosemary and Brenda. Unfortunately both Brenda and April have passed away. Katrina is now located in St. Catharines, Ont. and Rosemary is in Saskatoon, Sask.

Their father is no longer in any of their lives and the pair believe he may have other children spread out across the country. According to the sisters their father was married at least five times.

Beth said the discovery of her new siblings has brought more meaning to her life.

B次元官网网址淣ow I feel like IB次元官网网址檓 not so alone anymore because I can pick up the phone now and call my sister anytime,B次元官网网址 she said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e become very close, very fast.B次元官网网址

Shayna agreed and said itB次元官网网址檚 given her a better understanding of herself.

B次元官网网址淔or me a circle has been fulfilled because IB次元官网网址檝e always wondered about my father,B次元官网网址 she said. B次元官网网址淚 knew he was married before because my mother had told me so I always wondered if there were older siblings out there. It made me feel not so alone anymore. Like she said I can now pick up the phone and talk to her anytime.B次元官网网址

A full reunion of the four living sisters is planned for Abbotsford on Sunday, Aug. 15. Rosemary and Katrina, along with many other family members from both sides of the family are gathering at BethB次元官网网址檚 house. More activities are planned for Monday, Aug. 16.

Both sisters stated that this discovery was a bright light in what has been a terrible time for so many living through the pandemic and it was all thanks to technology that the connection could be made.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 been all sorts of bad news with the pandemic and for us to come across each other itB次元官网网址檚 been such good news for us,B次元官网网址 Shayna said. B次元官网网址淚 feel really happy that the during the pandemic this research was done and I feel like my family is finally completed.B次元官网网址

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Beth and her sisters Rosemary and Brenda from their younger days. (Submitted)
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Beth and her sisters Rosemary and Brenda from their younger days. (Submitted)
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Abbotsford neighbours and acquaintances Beth (left) and Shayna Davison have recently reconnected after decades of not knowing they existed. The right side of the picture is Beth and her two siblings in earlier days. (Ben Lypka/Abbotsford B次元官网网址)
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Ben Lypka

About the Author: Ben Lypka

I joined the Abbotsford B次元官网网址 in 2015.
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