I started my Puerto Rico Ancestry Journey in August 2020. I regularly message cousins via the Ancestry DNA message system. Some respond, and most don’t. On November 26, 2020, I sent a message to Maria. I mentioned the shared cousin matches and my grandparents Etanislao Resto Y Lopez and Rafaela Mijon Y Rivera who would lead to our connection. Maria said her daughter brought her an Ancestry DNA test kit for Mother’s Day. Maria wanted to learn about her nationality and she also wanted to find out about her biological mother, Vicki Hernandez. When Maria was 8 years old her stepmom told her there wasn’t a Santa Claus and she was not her biological mom. I tried to imagine what it would have been like learning her mom, wasn’t her biological mom at 8 years old. I don’t even think I knew what a stepmom was at 8 years old.

Maria’s stepmom begged her not to look for her biological mom, although she didn’t give a reason. On October 21, 2007, Maria’s stepmom passed away, and soon after Maria started looking for her biological mom. All her searches had come up empty.

I am very fortunate to have my paternal Aunt Titi Lydia who has the best memory. Titi Lydia has told me about how the family grew up, what they ate, how they lived, and most importantly who is who in my family. We also spoke about my cousin, Efrain Hernandez, who had a relationship with a woman who took both his children away and he never heard from them or her again. I recalled speaking with Efrain’s daughter Janet in 2011 after her dad passed away and learned she was taking on the task of looking for his children. I wondered if Titi Lydia and I were on the right path.

I’m on all the DNA platforms, Ancestry, 23andMe, My Heritage, and Gedmatch. I prefer Ancestry. When you pay for an Ancestry membership you can add Shared Matches Pro showing you how your DNA matches connect to each other. This tool is invaluable especially when you have DNA connections who don’t respond to messages. Maria and I shared DNA making us 1st cousins 2 times removed, which means her grandfather is my 1st cousin, and her mother my 1st cousin 1 time removed. The question still remained where was Maria’s mom? We just couldn’t find her. The name Vicki Hernandez is very common and we just didn’t have any leads where she lived or anything.

Thanksgiving 2024 my sister Melanie went to Florida to share a meal with our cousins and spend some time with them. Melanie opened our Ancestry family tree for all to see. One of those cousins was very interested in our family tree and asked me if I would manage his DNA. Yes! A few days later, I found a grandniece connection to Jose! Let me explain, Jose’s brother is Efrain whose children were taken from him. Is it possible this grandniece Jayline would lead to Maria’s mom? I had a strong feeling this would lead to so many unanswered questions. I started my search. I realized I had sent this DNA connection Jayline a message last year around Thanksgiving and had never heard back from her. I started looking for name combinations on Google. Then I found a clue, an obituary.

At times I think about myself as a detective. Should I become an Investigative Genetic Genealogist? It’s a thought.

Judi’s obituary contained the names of the cousins I was looking for and it mentioned her granddaughter Maria. This was it! I found them!! I reached out on Messenger, no response. I kept going down the list of names on the obituary and sending messages via Messenger. Then I had a response. Ivette told me she had an Uncle named, Efrain Jr. (Papo) and an Aunt named Vicki! I usually enclose my phone number and email in my correspondence, so while Ivette and I chatted she was talking to her uncle about our chat. A few minutes later, I received a phone call and I answered.

Efrain Jr. and I talked for a long time. I explained that I was 99.9% convinced he was the cousin we had been searching for specifically and scientifically because his daughter, Jayline connected to Jose as a grandniece. I then asked Efrain Jr. about his sister Vicki. Is she still living?

On December 22, 2024, I received a photo from Maria of her and her mom, Vicki. Maria and Vicki hugged for the first time in over 40 years.

I ended 2024 with my heart full of joy and love. Connecting a daughter to her mother. What new discoveries will I make on my Puerto Rico Ancestry Journey in 2025? I’ll keep you posted.

Until Next Time,

Lilly Resto Gunderman

puertoricoancestry.org