Take-home Dna Test Reunites Quebec Man With Long-lost Dutch Brother After 80 Years

A day gift led to nan find of a life erstwhile a MyHerritage DNA trial revealed an 80-year family mystery, uncovering that a man successful Quebec and a man successful nan Netherlands are long-lost brothers.

Frank McGrath, 78, of Longueuil, Que., and Frans Bannink, 80, of Almelo, Netherlands, met for nan first clip successful April aft a DNA trial taken by Bannink’s granddaughter showed a family relationship to Canada.

“My grandfather was hesitant to find retired who his biologic begetter was,” said Amber Hogervorst, who made nan travel to Canada pinch her grandparents.

“When I saw nan relationship connected nan website, I instantly sent Frank a connection and he responded immoderate weeks later.”

The rest, she says, is history.

“It was very affectional for me. I was very happy,” McGrath said. “Having been brought up an only child, to find retired I had an older relative … and a relative who looks for illustration our father.”

The 2 men stock a father, Staff Sgt. Dermot McGrath, a Canadian worker stationed successful nan Netherlands aft its liberation during nan Second World War. Dermot McGrath met Frank’s mother respective years aft Frans Bannink was born.

“He didn’t know. He ne'er talked astir it,” said McGrath. “He was joined for 60 years to my mother and she passed away. That was his loyalty. If he had known … we each would person known.”

The brothers described their first in-person gathering successful Amsterdam arsenic contiguous and natural.

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“We landed successful Amsterdam and rented a edifice adjacent Frans’ home. We met each time for 4 days. We had immoderate really bully times,” McGrath said.

“He came downstairs astatine nan edifice and I said, ‘There’s nan guy.’ It was instant,” said Frans Bannink.

Both families were struck by beardown beingness resemblances, shared mannerisms, and striking coincidences, including nan astir identical names of nan 2 brothers: Frans and Francis, who goes by Frank.

The reunion has laid nan instauration for an ongoing narration betwixt nan families.

“It was an instant relationship betwixt nan 2 of them, and besides us,” said McGrath’s wife, Johanne Tremblay McGrath.

“My newfound sister-in-law — aforesaid values, we are some huggers, and some criers,” she added.

Once separated by 5,000 kilometres, nan 2 families now stock an inexplicable closeness. Despite a heavy consciousness of what mightiness person been, some families are looking guardant to nan years ahead.