Looking for family member

Case

B was traveling to Lithuania with her family and wanted to learn more about her great-grandmother's long-lost sister, a relative who had stayed behind in Lithuania while the rest of the family emigrated to the United States. She had a list of four sisters: Helene, Helena, Victoria, and possibly Mary (though that last name was uncertain). The family also hoped to confirm an illegible address listed on a census record.

Findings

• Confirmed Helene (Rose) and Victoria living in Pennsylvania through census records, church affiliations, and obituary notices

• Found a sister named Pauline listed in family documents as having stayed in Lithuania but found no clear record of a fourth sister

• Suspect that Helene and Helena are the same person

• Given the family's naming patterns (e.g., Helene going by Rose), it's possible that Pauline and Mary were the same person, though records did not confirm this directly

• Although direct records for Pauline were not located, the documentation clarified family structure and supported next steps for in-country archival research during the trip

• Successfully deciphered the census address and cross-referenced it with birth records and historical property data to confirm its accuracy

Outcome

B received a document confirming the U.S.-based sisters, clarifying name variations, and identifying a possible match for the sister who remained in Lithuania. The document also resolved the question about the hard-to-read census address. While some questions remain open, the findings gave B and her family the clarity and tools needed to continue their research during their trip abroad.