NEENAH, Wis. (WFRV) – For Dianne Veeser and Gerry Seibert, moments together mean a little bit more, because for most of their lives they had been separated.
The two women are sisters. They were separated at ages 5 and 6 and adopted into different families in different states.
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Veeser grew up in New Orleans, and Seibert in Ohio. Later, both moved to the Midwest, only three hours apart.
Still, they remained unconnected for 75 years.
“We could have passed each other on the street and had no idea,” Veeser said.
After decades of wondering about her sister, Veeser decided to start looking.
“I got into my 50s and 60s and thought, I just need to find her,” Veeser said.
Every time she was close to finding Seibert, she hit a dead end.
“We both knew we were out there,” Veeser said. “I had searched through AncestryDNA and kept coming up with roadblocks.”
Until a new test changed everything.
“My daughters on AncestryDNA and her daughters on AncestryDNA, and they connected,” Veeser said.
This family secret turned into a surprise. Veeser drove to Chicago, and Seibert’s daughter set up the meeting.
A moment the two sisters had waited a lifetime for. After 75 years apart, the reunion was instant.
“I knew it was my sister,” Seibert said.
The two hugged instantly, with tears, all the searching coming to an end.
Now they are discovering how much they share, from their love of dragonflies to crafts.
“We look at each other and go, well that’s genetic,” Veeser said.
And while they can’t get the time back, they are together now, making new memories.
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“There’s nothing more important than family,” Veeser said. “This is my Hallmark moment.”
Both Veeser and Seibert hope their story inspires others to never stop searching.
