As I have mentioned previously in this blog, my wife Charlie finally found out this year (in her 76th year on earth!) who her biological father was.
Thanks to 23 and Me and Ancestry.com genetic research, the culprit was finally unearthed: an Italian immigrant named Pietro Migliacci who later anglicized his name to Peter Millet. He died many years ago, and his two daughters (who would be Charlie’s half-sisters) are also deceased.
However, three daughters of Charlie’s half-sister Regina are still alive, living back on the East Coast, and have expressed interest in meeting their long-lost “Auntie”. In fact, they were the ones who were doing family genetic research when they stumbled upon their grandfather’s progeny that they were unaware of.
Mary, Theresa and Gloria (daughters of Regina O’Rourke) have been working with Charlie, her sister Theresa Silvius, and I to cobble together a whirlwind tour of New York to meet the relatives and exchange stories.
Charlie and her sister Theresa are going to make this trip in October. They will start out in Las Vegas on Oct 19, fly to N.Y.C. on the 20th, spend 3 days visiting the O-Rourke families and sightseeing, and fly back to Las Vegas on the 24th.
The girls are hoping to squeeze in a Circle Line cruise around Manhattan and also tour Ellis Island, where young immigrant Pietro was processed into the United States in the 1930’s. One of the O’Rourke girls will chaperone them around the Big Apple during their visit. There will also be a family dinner where everyone can meet and tell stories about their mother and grandpa Peter.
On each end of the Reunion Tour, Charlie and Theresa will be able to let off some steam in Las Vegas (at South Point Hotel and Casino).
What a nice way to use up some of our Alaska Airlines air miles!