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Time of India
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
It's a complete miracle": Siblings find long-lost big sister 70 years after their mom was forced to give her up
After 73 years apart, Trish Caller, 61, and June Thompson, 63, finally met their long-lost older half-sister, Geraldine 'Geri' Ratcliffe, 77 — a reunion made possible by a chance DNA match and a daughter's curiosity. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now As first reported by SWNS and the Somerset County Gazette, the heartwarming discovery unfolded in April 2025, tracing its roots back to a painful chapter in Irish history and a mother's lifelong longing to reconnect. Back in 1952, their mother, Mary Willis, was forced to give up her eldest daughter while living at the notorious in Ireland — an institution later condemned for its cruel treatment of young, unmarried mothers. Geraldine was just four years old when she was placed for adoption. For decades, the secret weighed heavily on Willis, who died in 2011 at the age of 84, never knowing that her daughters would one day find each other. Caller, who works as a columnist for the Somerset County Gazette, said their mother never lied — she simply couldn't speak about the trauma. 'Mum never told us any lies, she just never told us the truth as she was made to feel that she'd committed the worst sin against God,' she told SWNS. The turning point came in 2023, when Caller's daughter, Laura Polley, submitted her DNA to The results led to a stunning match in April 2025. Thinking it was an April Fool's joke, both Caller and Ratcliffe were skeptical—until an email from Caller made the incredible truth undeniable. 'I thought Laura was playing April Fool's on me,' Caller recalled. 'Turns out Geri thought the same thing too.' A Zoom call was quickly followed by a deeply emotional in-person meeting later that month. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 'It was instant love,' Caller said of finally embracing her long-lost sister. Despite having lived separate lives, the three siblings discovered they had striking similarities — from facial features to the same infectious laugh. Together, they pieced together more of their mother's story. Mary Willis had been just 21 when she gave birth to Geraldine in 1948. She later left Ireland, married Peter Willis, and went on to have three more children — Trish, June, and their brother Stephen. The Bessborough Home, where Mary was once confined, operated under the control of the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. An Irish government investigation in 2021 revealed that nearly 900 children died there between 1922 and 1988, with many adoptions forced under immense pressure and shame. Though their mother never got the chance to reunite with the daughter she lost, her children honored her memory together — visiting her grave in a deeply moving tribute. 'We do feel like Mum is with us now, and she's been with us every step of the way,' Caller told the Somerset County Gazette. 'This is what Mum would have wanted.' The sisters now plan to travel to Ireland together, to walk through the places their mother once knew — and perhaps find a deeper sense of closure. 'It's a complete miracle,' said Caller. 'Having Geri in my life is something I've always wanted.'
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Siblings Find Long-Lost Big Sister Over 70 Years After Their Mom Was Forced to Give Her Up
Sisters Trish Caller and June Thompson grew up hearing about their older half-sister Geraldine Ratcliffe, but never met her until a DNA test changed everything The test helped the siblings track down the child their mother was forced to give up in 1952 Caller admitted that she "couldn't believe" they finally found each other, and just wished the happy moment could have taken place while their mom was still aliveTwo English sisters finally met their oldest sibling — and it's all thanks to a DNA test. Trish Caller, 61, and June Thompson, 63, spent decades trying to find their long-lost half-sister Geraldine Ratcliffe, 77, the siblings told SWNS. Their mother, Mary Willis, was also dedicated to trying to find Ratcliffe, who was just four years old when Willis was forced to put her up for adoption in 1952, according to the Somerset County Gazette, where Caller works as a columnist. "Having Geri in my life is something I've always wanted," Caller told SWNS. Although their mom, who died in 2011, didn't live to see the happy day, the reunion was set into motion in 2023, when Caller's daughter, Laura Polley, submitted a DNA sample to When a match turned up in April 2025, Caller sent an email to Ratcliffe — and assured her that despite the timing of the message (literally April 1 ) she wasn't pulling a prank. In fact, Ratcliffe wasn't the only one who needed a little convincing. "I thought Laura was playing April Fool's on me," Caller told SWNS, "turns out Geri thought the same thing too." Caller and Thompson chatted with Ratcliffe over Zoom before meeting in person for the first time later that month. Caller told SWNS she felt "instant love" for her biological half-sister. "Meeting for the first time was emotional," Caller said, noting that the three siblings share "similar" features and all have "the same laugh." Together, the sisters learned that their late mom was a survivor of the Bessborough Mother and Baby Home in Ireland, according to SWNS and the Somerset County Gazette. Wills, who died at the age of 84, was just 21 when she gave birth to Ratcliffe in 1948. A 2021 investigation by the Irish government found that the home, which was run by a religious order of Catholic nuns called the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, forced adoptions on the "vulnerable women" — and treated them with cruelty. Between 1922 and 1988, around 900 babies died at the home, which is no longer in operation, according to the Gazette. "Mum never told us any lies, she just never told us the truth as she was made to feel that she'd committed the worst sin against God," Caller told the outlet. After Wills had to give up Ratcliffe, she left Ireland and later met and married Peter Wills, with whom she welcomed Caller, Thompson and their brother Stephen, according to SWNS. Since finding each other, Caller said that all the sisters took an "emotional" visit to pay their respects at their mother's grave. They have a happier trip planned too. "We're planning to take a trip to Ireland to see where mum spent her earlier years," said Caller. Although it was "a shame" they couldn't reunite with their sister while their mother was still around, Caller told the Somerset County Gazette that discovering Ratcliffe was "a complete miracle." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. "We do feel like Mum is with us now, and she's been with us every step of the way," she said. "This is what mum would have wanted." Read the original article on People
