Sisters Reunited After 61 Years

A family meets for the first time, 61 years after the oldest child was born. Three sisters are proving thousands of miles and many decades cannot break the bond that is sisterhood. "I can't describe it," says Judy Leu. "I mean, I have a family that I never had. Never even dreamed I had!"

Judy's parents could not afford to raise her, so they gave her up for adoption when she was born in California in 1948. The parents who raised her never kept the adoption a secret, but they did not know the family had more children: two daughters. One was named Carol. The other was named Deb.

When the parents who raised Judy died, she found a clue to her past. "I found the check that had been written to pay for my delivery," she says. "It cost $100 to pay for a baby then. And the check had my natural mother's name on it."


While Judy didn't know she had sisters, Carol and Deb knew about her. Their mother made sure of it.

"She said it was the hardest thing she ever did was giving her up," recalls Carol Mories. "When we got to be about teenagers she would tell us, 'Every time I turn around and look at you girls, I know there should be another one.'"

Using her mother's name, Judy began searching online genealogy websites. She posted a message, not knowing her sister, Deb Halverson had posted one on another website looking for Judy. A stranger named Beth saw both posts, made the connection and sent both women an email. Within minutes, the sisters had been united. A family was born.

All three began exchanging emails and phone calls. The first time Carol and Judy talked, it was a two and a half hour call. When they exchanged pictures, it was obvious there was a striking family resemblance. All have blond hair and similar bone structures.

"When I saw a picture of Carol I was like, "Whoa! That's my mom!" says Judy's daughter Tina Brogi, who also resembles her newly discovered aunts.

Saturday, Deb came from Iowa, and Carol from Montana to Judy's home in O'Fallon, Missouri. A family was born.

"When they walked up I couldn't let go. I couldn't stop crying. All I wanted to do was hug them so tight they'd never be gone again!" Judy says.

They look alike, and act alike. They love to read and to cook. They use the same spices, they love to bake bread. They love to garden. Judy just retired after 21 years as a police officer. Until this weekend, she had no idea it was in her blood: her grandfather was a U.S. Marshal.

Monday, they walked through Judy's garden holding hands and laughing. "This roof has probably been shaking from all the laughter," says Deb. Carol baked bread in Judy's kitchen.

Even after 61 years apart, they are not strangers. They are sisters.

"Up until three weeks ago I would have said everyone is 100 percent a product of their environment, and that's it," says Judy, laughing. "I will eat those words until the day I die. I'm telling you i never knew that genetics were that strong!"

"They're just such wonderful and beautiful people, I'm so lucky," she says. "We are too!" says Deb.

Hugging her sisters, Judy says, "I've got two mothers, two fathers, and two beautiful sisters. I am the luckiest person in the world, i am."