THIRTY ONE - Sharing TMI but it's the only way!

 LENORA VERI + boyfriend FRANK WEIR

Joined more Genealogy groups for Help

I just downloaded my DNA to as many sites as I can find. I haven't seen any close DNA matches but who knows what the future holds. I also joined 5 NEW Private Genealogy sites and plead my case. All it takes is ONE person who remembers MOM. I have NO illusions, with the family Colon Cancer history that mom had, she likely passed away. Which is exactly what I was told when MOM's info was run thru the Sheriff's data base. They said Nothing showed up & they said she likely died decades ago. I have accepted it, but I still want to know where she is buried and Maybe find out what happened to her.

It is NOT EASY putting myself out there!

There is something "PRIVATE" about your Family Drama. It's really difficult to purge your PERSONAL DRAMA with everyone on Facebook and the Internet. IF there was Any other way to get the answers of what happened to MOM I would have gladly done it. Instead I am flogging Mom's picture and of course myself and Tina's. Even sharing that Tina passed away 12 years ago feels like Crap, but suck it up Buttercup. LET'S DO THIS!

Timeline is starting to get me focused on perhaps a decade at most. 1979 MOM would have been 47 years old. With her Colon Cancer, life expectancy is about 52 - 56 years old. Hypothetically my search should concentrate 1979 to 1989. I could search as high as 1999. I'm remembering a Genealogy article saying most people don't move too far from  their Circle. NOT true for my MOM, she's been all over the place. When she lived in Toronto tho, she didn't venture far. Was one end of Toronto to the other, but she stayed Inside the city. MAYBE that can be applied to Florida which is the Last place she is known to be?

I am NOT convinced Frank Weir is the key

I spoke to cousin Tina and she said YES Frank was Canadian and she thinks he is from Toronto. I can find Census for a "Frank Weir" in Toronto for 1957 + 1963 as an Advertizing Sales Rep. The address is Chaplin Crescent. When I googled the address it's within blocks of where MOM worked @ Fran's restaurant as a Cocktail waitress. I remember MOM's outfit for Frans well. It was a long sleeve black body suit like ladies wear doing exercise. MOM had sewn fringe around the neck line and wore fishnet pantyhose with heels! Mom would have been 31 years old .... and a Looker. So it is Feasible that Frank and associates would be @ Fran's Cocktail lounge.

Frank Weir then reappears in 1972 CENSUS listed as an "Artist" which threw me for a minute. But in 1974 @ the same address, Frank Weir shows up again as a "Salesman" so its' possible it is the same Frank as in the 60's. Cousin Tina mentioned MOM rented an apt in Illinois in 1971, so I asked IF Frank was there with her. Tina thinks Frank was already "Gone" .... which would fit into him showing up in 1972 Toronto Census!

This of course is all Pondering and Not factual "YET" ~ But IF it is in fact THE Frank Weir, he is already out of the picture BEFORE mom files for divorce in 1979. SO locating him means Nothing. I will follow the lead but I think it's moot.

On the PLUS side a Quilting friend summers in Florida. She forwarded my post to her friends there. Ya never know where the sliver of info will come from that solves this!

FINGERS crossed that baring my Soul will find MOM!

THIRTY - 12 YEARS since TINA left us!

Tina Laughing @ a stupid joke RICE LAKE 1986 

In Honor of your Passing!

On the 12th anniversary of Tina's passing, I want to do something special for my Sister. I want to re-start the search for our Mom "LENORA  ANNE  JENNINGS" We last saw her in 1965 as the Nasty Custody battle heated up between Mom and Dad. I hate that at 10 years old I did not have a clear picture of what "Divorce & Custody" would have on all our lives. To think I would not see my mother again after the Custody battle is painful even 57 years later. My Sister Tina was also Heart Broken to never see our mom, but that's what happens in a Nasty Custody & Divorce Battle back in the 1960's. Conquer takes the Spoils!

1979 to 1986 time line holds the answers!

MOM is in Miami-Dade Florida getting a divorce in 1979....who the heck was with her as a Florida residence as her Character Witness? SOMEONE knows of our mom! Maybe NOT as Lenora, but as LEE, or NORA or LEE ANNE or ELEANOR or ????  Granted it is over 40 years ago, but maybe a child, sibling or neighbor of the person who went to court for mom. Our Mother was a Social Butterfly (like my sister Tina) Mom was Not someone a person you could forget....so Some where, Someone was privy to the Court case. 

PLEASE let me know what happened to Lenora Anne Jennings 

(aka Anna Rose Ellis) ( aka Lenora VERI) (aka LEE Anne Jennings) (aka Nora ?)

IS IT IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO HER ...."YES"!!!!

To those who grew up knowing Both their parents, maybe you can NOT understand the pull of a child's  Heart. We were Never allowed to use the phone, EVER! Only in 2019 after viewing the court documents did I understand WHY! The Custody agreement said my sister & I were "Allowed" as part of the Custody order, to phone our mother "WHEN EVER WE WANTED"  Omgawd! We NEVER KNEW! I am sad to think of MOM sitting, waiting for us to phone and it Never happened. It is a crushing realization decades too late!

Would ease the Pain to close the chapter

After all these decades, I would like the answers or "WHERE, WHEN and maybe even WHY" My sister Tina and I searched for a long time for our mom and our Brother Steve. It was a challenge bc we didn't have internet or any info on our mom or the Maternal Family history. My newly found Brother Steve never knew we existed but he Always wondered about his Mother "NORA JENNINGS"  It would be such a GIFT to have an answer for Steve, Myself and especially my "itty Bitty Teenie Weenie Tiny Little Sister TINA" 

I Luv you sis, miss you sis & I hope to find our Mother's Final resting place.

ALL I need is a little help from strangers!

PLEASE HELP US FIND LENORA ANNE JENNINGS 

SHARE THE STORY ON SOCIAL MEDIA

 

TWENTY NINE - Get my Ducks in a ROW

The ONLY photo of my SIS and I together as children!

"AH HA" idea was WISHFUL thinking.

 My subscription to NEWSPAPERS from Ancestry is running out. Been a member for a few  years with No revelations. I decided to spend the last few days of my subscription doing searches in Florida. If Nothing comes thru I plan to cancel and try plan B. My thought was since MOM got her divorce there in 1979 maybe she was still there, under a NEW married name. Having her Florida resident as a witness means she had some connection there. So I used every variation of her name(S) I could think of....Nada! I spent many many HOURS and went back for more punishment today. I need a break for my brain to come up with another Hair brain idea. As I'm writing, I think I will check the Florida Census. I am sure I have already tried that, but who knows maybe it is there waiting for me?

"NEVER GIVE UP" reminder

When I first started my search in March 2018 I joined a few Facebook groups. One of the ladies started helping me, directing me on places to look. Often I would get frustrated because I couldn't find any new leads. Being a hobby Genealogist she would keep telling "NEVER GIVE UP" and she was right.  Maybe 3 years FEELS like a long time, but considering I am trying to dig up history that has been dormant for Decades, I shouldn't expect it to be easy. I have been using GOOGLE to get new ideas for where I can search.  

MY PLAN OF ATTACK ~ KEEP MY EYES ON THE PRIZE

A Year ago the FB Ancestry site asked me to tell my story, but I was selling my house and never got around to it. The Social media angle is likely my Best chance to find MOM.

Facebook - Ancestry

Facebook 23+me

Facebook SEARCH TEAM - United States Search Angles

Facebook Search Squad

Facebook - searching for biological family

Twitter

Instagram

https://www.23andme.com/

https://www.ancestry.ca/

https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection 

https://www.myheritage.com/ 

WISH ME LUCK!!!! I'm going to FLOG the internet, 

Maybe just Maybe I will find where our mom is buried!

I need my Post to be shared enough that "Someone" will come forward.

PLEASE SHARE MY FB POST!

TWENTY EIGHT - RECAP of Time Line Facts

?? Mom where are you ??

Hoping a TIME LINE "recap" will HELP

"MOM" was Born ANNA ROSE ELLIS May 9 1932 in Kentucky USA

Father ROY ELLIS JENNINGS died April 1932 Carrollton Kentucky

Mother - ANNA MAE PICKERELL died 1935 Buffalo NY

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"MOM" found as LENORA ANN BLOOMFIELD 1934 Buffalo NY

Paternal Aunt LENORA Bloomfield was guardian in 1933 Died 1943

"MOM" attends school in ILLINOIS 1948 moves to TORONTO Canada

Visits USA briefly and returns to Toronto Ont Canada by 1950

Gives birth 1950 to son "STEPHEN" is adopted by Children's Aid 1952 

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"MOM" marries Peter Edward Veri ~ March 1953 Chicago Illinois

They move to Toronto North York Ontario Canada 1953

Gives birth to daughter Maria Yvette VERI March 7 1954

Gives birth to daughter Christina Marie (Tina) July 4 1956

"MOM" separates from Peter Veri 1958, continues to live in Toronto

We visited DAD 1964 the Custody fight began, never returned to Mom

2019 I found documents Peter Veri won Custody Jan 17 1969 

"MOM" stays with brother Late 1960's in River Grove ILLINOIS

"MOM" lives with FRANK WEIR (Canadian) River Grove ILLINOIS

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"MOM" visits California then moves to Florida about 1974

LENORA VERI granted divorce May 1979 MIAMI DADE FLORIDA

(RESIDENT of Miami Dade Florida is listed as a WITNESS in Divorce)

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This is when MOM DISAPPEARS, NEVER to be heard from again!

I am guessing Someone in Florida knew her? I can't find any Census with her listed. Chances are whomever she was living with didn't list her legal name. Perhaps they were living as Common Law? 

I don't understand WHY she would get a divorce unless she planned to marry again. "Some One" requested a copy of the Divorce years after the fact. The name is not listed so NO clue who it was.

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RANDOM Facts of LENORA ANNE JENNINGS

Slender, small frame, strawberry blonde, 5 ft 2, U.S. citizen

Children's Aid & Custody documents list MOM as Fashionable / well kept / well spoken / educated / personable / artistic / pleasant / articulate 

MOM worked as a Cigarette Girl / hair and cosmetics demonstrator /  Frans restaurant hostess / cashier / waitress

MOM was Musical, especially the piano and singing / artist / swimmer / Ultimate Fashionista with Perfect makeup, hair and clothing

MOM was often surrounded by male and female  friends. 

I remember her love of dancing while listening to Jazz music

She enjoyed Movies, playing cards, singing, live plays and socializing.

MAYBE THIS WILL JAR SOMEONE'S MEMORY!

TWENTY SEVEN ~ Take a second look

 

More questions than answers?

It's Time for a second look!

It is almost the THREE year anniversary of the search for my mom "Lenora Jennings" I have found countless First, Second, third and forth cousins, none of whom I knew existed. I have also found Aunts, Uncles, grand parents and other people in my Family Tree. 

"BUT"

I have still not found ANYTHING about my mother ~ NOTHING!

It is extremely frustrating and at times I wonder Why I would bother. I don't know anything about her, and she has most likely passed away. There hasn't been any new developments so it's time for a second look!

Trying to make sense of the Documents

I have decided to make a new "LIFE" board using the Legal documents as building blocks. These documents are the only thing I know for sure. (even that statement is not 100% true) My mothers BIRTH Certificate above is a prime example. She is listed as "ANNA ROSE ELLIS" The truth is though that her father's family name was "JENNINGS"  My Grandfather ROY was taken in by the ELLIS family when his family died. When he joined the army, he was using the last name JENNINGS. So WHY is my mom's Birth certificate under ELLIS, she was born a few weeks AFTER her father had died. When her birth was registered, she was a Jennings?

The "SWITCH-A-ROO" of mom's name

My Grandmother "ANNA MAE PICKERELL" registered my mom's name as "ANNA ROSE ELLIS", but shortly after my grandmother moved to Buffalo, dying with cancer. ROY's sister "LENORA Bloomfield" stepped in and cared for the many children. My searches discovered that my mother was renamed as "LENORA ANNE BLOOMFIELD"? My mother came to Toronto without any documents. She returned to the U.S. to get a birth certificate so she could work. Suddenly my mother was "LENORA ANNE JENNINGS" Is it any wonder my search has been so difficult? 

Take a Breath, and start at Square One

So it is time for me to look in earnest at how best to proceed with my search. Even though I discovered many people, I still haven't found my mom. I found out there has been NO activity of anyone using my mom's name for Decades. I have been advised that she is likely dead. I would Still like to find out what happened to her, where is she buried, where is her death certificate and does ANYONE remember her? Fingers crossed!

"LIFE UPDATE explaining my ABSENCE"

My blog has suffered bc of the many life changes in my life. Separation, relocation and renovations....I am ready to begin my Search again.