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Mother’s Day special for reunited mother and daughter

 

CAMBRIDGE - For Celia Nelson and her mother, Florence Roach, Mother’s Day isn’t just a special day celebrated once a year in May, but a special moment celebrated just about every day.

Celia Nelson was separated from her mother when she was six years old. Her parents, (Red) Lowell and Florence Koenen divorced when she was six. Lowell won custody of Celia and her younger brother, Vincent, but eventually left Vincent with Florence and began an adventure of travel with Celia, moving about every year in order to keep Roach from finding her.

Lowell did a good job raising Nelson, recalled Nelson and Roach. There were never any bad words or feelings ever said of Florence and Lowell even suggested Celia find her birth mother and family. Nelson thought of her lost family often, but her life was going well and she didn’t want to mess up their family by showing up one day.

However, in Colorado, a sister that Nelson had a faint memory of had started an internet search for her. Belinda and Belinda’s sister-in-law, Kristine, started the search at www.ancestory. com by posting a message that they were looking for a sister, Celia Koenen.

Kristine received a message from one of Celia’s paternal relatives, Nancy, who saw the message. Nancy replied that she hadn’t heard from Celia since her father passed away in 1993. This put a damper on the search, but Belinda didn’t give up. She responded with a letter of her own pleading for help in finding a sister she hadn’t seen in over 35 years.

On December 31, 2003 Belinda posted the message on the www.peoplesite.com website and almost immediately received a response from a total stranger who was willing to help. His name was Steve Mundros. In a matter of days, Mundros had found a possible uncle in California. Belinda left a message on Leon Koenen’s answering machine, hoping for the best.

The best happened with a call from Leon on Monday, January 12 saying he was in fact Celia’s uncle but hadn’t had contact with her since 1993. Uncle Leon knew of a relative that had contact with Celia and on the very next day Belinda received a call from her long lost sister, Celia. It took five whole minutes before either of them could talk but then the talking began.

“I knew something was going on when the two girls (Belinda and Kristine) came through the door,” said Roach when she heard the news they found the daughter she hadn’t seen in over 36 years, “that day was so special.”

February 6, 2004 the family reunited after many years of being apart. Celia, three sisters, one brother and her mother met for the first time in over 36 years for a joyful and emotional three day reunion.

All the fears each member of the family had vanished once they met and all the missing years vanished with those fears, as well.

“It turned out great,” said Nelson. The family immediately fell in love with each other as they began to share stories and laughter.

In fact, Nelson found out that her husband, Brad, lived in the same town as her when she was six. Nelson’s older sister and Brad were also the same age and recalled many of the same small town stories. “I probably fell in love with him when I was six even though I had no recollection of living in Bennett, Colorado,” Nelson joked.

Shortly after the reunion, Roach began her visits to the Nelson Farm in Cambridge. The farm reminded Roach of her roots and she loved the visits. The gardening, the chickens and cows, the open spaces and rolling hills of Nebraska and the long talks down memory lane were enough to keep Roach coming back each summer.

“I would turn the tape recorder on and let her tell stories about growing up in the mountains of Snowmass, Colorado,” said Nelson, “she told of family history and stories of my brother and sisters growing up.”

“I am very blessed to have this opportunity to have a great family, but it has not been without its adjustment. It took me awhile to change,” Nelson continued, “with so much family, becomes commitment of time and effort which was not always easy to fit into my already busy life, but now it is like we were never apart.”

Nelson scanned all the photos Roach shared with her into the computer and typed in the names and history of each photo. Roach was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and Dementia so “preserving the history was very important to me and to her to save this before she could not remember the details,” said Nelson.

And, for the first time, Nelson saw her baby book and baby pictures, which she never thought could be so amazing.

Roach spent three summers in Cambridge before the decision was made to move her to the Assisted Living facility in Cambridge in September. “The other kids got her for the last 40 years,” said Nelson with a smile as she looked toward her mother, “now it is my turn.”

There was a lot of paperwork to have Roach moved to Cambridge and she lived with Nelson and her husband for awhile to claim residency, but it was well worth it to Nelson and Roach.

“Cambridge is so lucky to have such a wonderful assisted living facility and mom is very happy here,” said Nelson, “I checked out other alternatives for her in Colorado so we could make an educated choice and Cambridge was as good as or better than many there.” After almost 40 years of separation, Nelson and Roach spend nearly every other day (if not more) with one another, now.

“It has been so much fun,” said Roach of the time spent with her daughter.

“Having a mom here, just having a mom is a miracle,” said Nelson, “it feels so good to be needed. She gave me the gift of life and I like to return the favor. I will never take her for granted.”

  

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