A Nova Scotia woman in long-term care had the opportunity to reconnect with a long-lost Irish friend she had not seen in over 40 years because of a story she read in the Chronicle Herald newspaper.
In September, Joan LeBlanc was reading a #Because2020 story about a Hantsport, N.S. man named Alastair Day Parsons, who received a postcard from an Irish friend named Declan Cadogan. They had not been in touch since working in Montreal together eight years ago, and the postcard made its way to Day Parsons with just “Hantsport, N.S.” as the address.
The name “Cadogan” and his hometown of Skibbereen caught the eye of LeBlanc, an 81-year-old living in Yarmouth. In the mid- to late-1970s, she had worked with a woman named Theresa Cadogan, also from Skibbereen, Ireland.
“When I saw the name and County Cork, Skibbereen, I thought, ‘Oh, that's too much. It's got to be her,’” said LeBlanc.
LeBlanc contacted SaltWire Network, hoping Declan was related and could get her in touch with her old friend. After some emails and phone calls, it was discovered Theresa was a family cousin.
The two women reconnected over a phone call.
“I was thrilled,” said Theresa, whose last name is now Hickey. “It's just fantastic to think somebody remembers me after 40-odd years.”
During the phone call, they caught up and discussed tracking down others they worked with at Heather and Company, a law firm in Prince George, B.C., where LeBlanc was a secretary and Hickey an accountant.
Hickey fondly remembers her time in Canada. The 73-year-old first came to volunteer with a Catholic mission, then started working at the law firm. She loved the job but missed home.
“I wasn't used to the Canadian people, really,” she said. “They were all so welcoming, and supportive and nice and friendly, and all these lovely adjectives you can think of.”
Since the initial call, LeBlanc has received a letter and some pictures from Hickey. She said Hickey looks good and intends to write back.
LeBlanc was a world traveller throughout her life but never made it to Ireland. She currently lives in a nursing home and says she does not think she will ever travel again.
But Hickey is more optimistic and made sure to let her know she is welcome in Ireland. When COVID-19 is over and she “wins the lotto," Hickey plans to come to Canada. And she hopes the people she met while living here will see this article and get in touch.
“I want to say thanks to Declan, and to Alastair, and to Joan, and to you,” she told the reporter. “It was so nice that you made it all happen.”
#Because 2020 is a series of stories about the unique situations people in Atlantic Canada have found themselves in this year. See more #Because2020 tales below. Have a story to share? Email [email protected].
