Nova Scotia family reunited with sister after 50 years by chance

A family in the Annapolis Valley celebrated a joyful Christmas after a chance encounter brought about a reunion with a long-lost sibling.

In NovemberCoral Rafuse, 42, was at work at the New Minas Children's Centre, and went out to pay a bill for bread at the bakery across the street.

Inside the Flower Cart, a business which employs adults with intellectual disabilities, Rafuse saw a wall lined with photos of long-time employees.

One of those photos bore a striking resemblance to Rafuse's own mother and the surname matched that of her mother's first husband.

Rafuse went back to work and phoned her sister, Candace Bird, 44, to tell her that she thought she'd found their eldest sister, Machelle Hubley, 51. TogetherRafuse and Bird told their mother about the discovery.

Her mother went quiet when she heard the news, Rafuse said.

"She said it had to be her," Rafuse said. "She was just happy to know [Hubley] was alive. It gave her such a sense of peace."

'Sister, aunt, daughterand granddaughter'

Nearly 50 years ago, their mother was unable to meet the demands posed by her infant daughter's physical and intellectual challenges and gaveher upfor adoption.

The little girlbecame a ward of the province and moved between several foster homes.

Thefamily never looked for herbecause they thought shehad been adopted and possibly taken out of province, Rafuse said.

But it turns outHubleyhas been living at a L'Arche Homefires residencein Greenwich, N.S., for more than 30 years only kilometresfrom her two sisters.

Unlike other members at the home, Hubleynever had a family to visit at Christmas, but all those missed celebrations haven't diminished the joy she'sfeltsince the reunion.

"She's just so happy to be a sister, aunt, daughterand granddaughter,"Rafuse said.

'She'snot losing us'

The timing of the reunion couldn't be better, Rafuse said. She and Bird lost their father a couple of years agoand their mother nearly died last year. Hubley's discovery brings joy to a recently tragic time.

"To have Machelle be so happy and joyful, it's taken that pain and made it into something so happy," Rafuse said.

Even though the reunion with Hubleyhas beena long time in the making, it'sa gift that will endure for years to come, Rafuse said.

"She's found her family," she said."She's not losing us."