A woman who spent seven years searching for her long-lost sister discovered that she had moved in next door – after spotting her name on a delivery.
Hillary Harris, 31, from Eau Claire, Wisconsin, knew her sibling was called Dawn Johnson – and decided to ask her neighbor about her father after seeing her full name.
Dawn, 50, confirmed her suspicions that they did indeed share the same father, Wayne Clouse, who died in 2002.
Hillary had spent years trying to track down her long-lost siblings with no luck, until Dawn moved in next door a year ago.
Hillary Harris, 31, (right) from Eau Claire, Wisconsin, discovered that her long-lost sister Dawn Johnson, 50, (left) had moved in next door
Hillary and her brother Tyler Hardy, 33, were adopted 30 years ago, when they were just toddlers.
She had decided to search for her biological family when she became pregnant with her daughter Stella, now seven.
Her adoption agency revealed the names of her birth parents but she was heartbroken to discover her biological father Wayne Clouse had died in 2002.
But when going through her file, Hillary discovered her late father’s obituary which mentioned his daughters Dawn Johnson and Renee Diericks, 49.
Hillary (far right, with Dawn and daughter Stella) had spent years trying to track down her half-sibling Dawn
Dawn did not grow up with her father, but formed a relationship with him later in life. Pictured is Dawn as a baby with her father Wayne and her mother
Hillary struggled to track down her half-siblings on Facebook, until Dawn and her partner Kurt Casperson moved in next door, last year.
‘For me this is 100 per cent fate. I was so sad when I discovered my biological father had passed away,’ Hillary said.
‘But by meeting Dawn, I feel like I have all the answers I will ever need. She’s the missing puzzle piece I have been looking for for so many years.’
She added: ‘For me something first clicked in June when I first found out her name was Dawn and she was from Greenwood.
Hillary realized her half-sister was living next door after seeing her full name on a delivery. They are pictured here with Hillary’s husband Lance (far left) and daughter Stella (front) and Dawn’s partner Kurt Casperson (far right)
Hillary (left with daughter Stella) described how she and sister Dawn have become close
‘My husband and me joked for a few weeks that she was my sister but we didn’t know her last name.’
However, that changed when Hillary spotted Dawn’s last name on a delivery that arrived for her.
‘One day she got a delivery of shingles for her roof and it was addressed to Dawn Johnson, the same name in Wayne’s obituary, she explained.
‘I began to shake. It was such an intense moment. It was late at night, but I finally got the courage to text her and ask her who her dad was.
Hillary (pictured as a child) and her brother Tyler were adopted when they were just toddlers
Dawn (pictured as a baby) also has another sister Renee. She said they were both ecstatic when they found out about Hillary
Pictured is Dawn as a baby with her mother and her father Wayne, who she shares with Hillary
‘She confirmed it was Wayne. I told her we had a lot to talk about and she said, ‘We have the same dad don’t we?’
Hillary described how she and half-sister Dawn have grown close since discovering they were related.
‘When I met my birth mum I thought I would have this tingly feeling and an immediate bond and I didn’t,’ she said. ‘With Dawn I felt an immediate connection.’
Dawn, who did not grow up with her father but formed a relationship with him later in life, said: ‘It’s such a weird coincidence.
Wayne died in 2002, with daughters Dawn (above) and Renee mentioned in his obituary
‘Of all the hundreds of thousands of homes we bought a house that shares a driveway with my sister.
‘I was ecstatic and so was my sister Renee. She couldn’t believe it.’
After meeting her biological mother, Hillary discovered she and her brother Tyler, a factory worker, were born as a result of an affair with Wayne.
Although Hillary says Tyler was reluctant to meet Dawn at first, he finally agreed to meet his half-sibling.
Hillary and Tyler plan to undergo DNA tests to officially confirm that Dawn and Renee are their siblings.
Hillary and Dawn explained how they’ve enjoyed getting to know each other’s partners Kurt (far left) and Lance (far right)
Dawn and partner Kurt have been getting to know their niece, Hillary’s daughter Stella
Hillary said: ‘We would hope to DNA tests soon but we’re in no rush. My brother has met Dawn and said he would have no problem providing his DNA.’
Dawn, who is mother to Todd, 29, and Tyler, 27, has enjoyed getting to know her new niece Stella, seven, and her brother-in-law Lance Harris, 44.
Dawn said: ‘I have become so close to Stella. I had only ever had boys so it is so fun to have a little girl playing in the front yard.
‘Hopefully my boys will be able to meet the whole family soon.’
Hillary added: ‘Stella just loves Dawn. She thinks she so fun and has loved getting to know her and Kurt.’
‘I think all our bad luck with weird neighbors finally turned around because I feel so lucky to have found Dawn.’