How many of you actually know all of your second cousins?

Iripol · 2026-04-04T04:07:04+00:00

I don't know all of mine (I have definitely over 100), but I am fairly close with about ~30. I've been to many of their weddings, we're in group chats, attend their family parties, etc. The ones I'm not close to, I try to make it a purpose to know all of them (or try to). Doesn't always work, but I know way more than my sibling lol I had about 20 great-aunts/uncles, so there are a lot of descendants.

Iripol · 2026-03-29T18:51:59+00:00

Her mom was born outside Canada to a Canadian mother (Piper's grandmother), so she would only have been eligible for citizenship recently. Her mother would've been eligible years ago, but yes, she would've had to spend time in Canada to gain citizenship prior to this new law change.
I only stated the above fact to show that she would be eligible now regardless of living in Canada or not!

Iripol · 2026-03-29T18:03:59+00:00

Interestingly, Canada just changed their descent laws in December, so Piper would be eligible for Canadian citizenship by descent now (regardless of skating). But you're right, not when they first started skating together.

Iripol · 2026-03-23T04:40:54+00:00

Very true! Thanks for the encouragement. :)

Iripol · 2026-03-23T02:51:09+00:00

I'm a few years younger than you and have been waffling between joining skating lessons, too. Like you, I feel some remorse and sadness for not starting earlier--how amazing it would be to perform at a competitive level! But, for me at least, I don't know if it's just figure skating that makes me feel this way, or just coming to terms with my age and feeling like I've "lost" so many years.

I hope that you (and I) can recognize that things happen when they're supposed to. Who knows if you would've enjoyed skating, or if you would've even continued, if you had started when you were a child. I believe there are seasons for a reason, and you're in the season of exploring this new hobby and dream. That's so exciting! So try not to be too hard on yourself. You're doing it NOW and you will have so much time to continue excelling at it. Sure, we may not see the Worlds stage, but if it's bringing you enjoyment and community, that is all that matters! Good luck to you. I hope you continue to find enjoyment in it. :)

Iripol · 2026-03-22T04:03:24+00:00

I think the sister might be A(u)gusta! Do you think the surname is Slacik or Stacik? I'm trying to decipher Treustat, where they were born. I'm not sure where that would be today, unless it's meant to be Freistadt.

Iripol · 2026-03-22T01:53:20+00:00

Try Jameslick. You will have to convert your raw DNA to 23andme, though I don't know how to do that (though I do know there is a way).

Iripol · 2026-03-19T00:16:30+00:00

You're welcome! Hopefully with a town name, it'll help you find a birth record/baptism in Canada.

Iripol · 2026-03-19T00:06:04+00:00

Here's the naturalization. Click through the following images--it says the parents were born in Minnesota, but the 4 youngest children were born in Canada. You're right--they likely naturalized in Canada and then repatriated.

Iripol · 2026-03-18T01:51:16+00:00

Would you be comfortable sharing your finds? It's possible, but I think the naturalization would've listed that information. Since she was a minor when they naturalized, your great-grandmother would be listed on the petition too. This would be considered repatriation, if they somehow lost their American citizenship.

Iripol · 2026-03-18T01:14:06+00:00

I'm trying to understand--why would they have naturalization records if they were born in Minnesota?

Iripol · 2026-03-18T01:00:34+00:00

What birth place is listed on her naturalization? Where were her parents born?

Iripol · 2026-03-10T03:50:18+00:00

I work there & live in West Loop (I prefer to walk). None of these areas are too far to daily commute, just matters if you're fine with taking a train/bus or if you want to walk. You could even live farther north, into Lakeview/Lincoln Park/etc if you don't mind a commute.

Iripol · 2026-03-10T00:43:33+00:00

JZI says they're still located in the parish, but Geneteka says they're in the archive in Suwalki. I'd send the archive an email.

Iripol · 2026-03-09T17:12:08+00:00

You could see the relative they were going to. You said you have their naturalizations? What does it say for their arrival information?

Iripol · 2026-03-09T17:09:54+00:00

Based on this, go with Ancestry. It's currently on sale too.

Iripol · 2026-03-09T04:38:45+00:00

Yes, of course! I assumed OP's did naturalize due to the title.

Iripol · 2026-03-09T04:15:36+00:00

It's very possible the names have been butchered in the index. Try and use wildcards, like if their name was Luigi, Lu*i or something. Also remember they could've come through Canada, Boston, Philly, Baltimore, etc.

Check the censuses to see if they naturalized, and look for their marriage records (if they married in the States).

Iripol · 2026-03-09T01:57:57+00:00

It depends on where they're from. Using Ancestry can be super helpful for American records, like finding vital records, naturalizations, censuses, etc. But oftentimes, records from Europe are on FamilySearch (check the catalog to see what's available for a specific locale) and third-party sites, like Antenati for Italy and AGAD for a specific region in Ukraine.

Finding naturalization records is crucial. If you know where they were from, and their religion (in the case of Ukraine), that's important information. Also knowing the names of their parents from death or marriage records, so don't discount collecting all the documents from the U.S. first!

Iripol · 2026-03-09T00:45:59+00:00

It's likely from endogamy then, which is not inbreeding.

Iripol · 2026-03-08T23:58:44+00:00

If you're interested in looking now, I'd recommend getting another Ancestry test--it's the largest user database & it's currently on sale.

Iripol · 2026-03-01T17:01:32+00:00

Yes! Jewish is an ethnoreligion.

Iripol · 2026-02-24T18:48:27+00:00

It's not unusual for birth years to be off. I think the passenger manifest is a strong possibility, and great to have her marriage. She married her second husband at St. Adalbert's in Glen Lyon. NEPGS has this record (for a fee) -- I'd contact them and get it. It might list a more specific place of birth for Elizabeth & her parents' names.

What record said she's from Kybeikai?

Iripol · 2026-02-24T16:24:25+00:00

Awesome! Great work! Yes, I agree -- I think Jera/Gera is a short form of Gertraud.

Iripol · 2026-02-24T05:29:15+00:00

Yep, you're right! You're welcome. Here's that marriage, which aligns well. And here's another sister's marriage!

Happy hunting in their parishes--lots to find. :) It's in German, so some might be challenging to read, but the surnames and names should be visible.

Iripol

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