Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2016 10:05 am
Post subject: Janet Kopek
Greetings. I am trying to get some information on my grandmother Janet Ann Kopek (I don't know if this is her real last name, but it is the one we know.), born in Mineola, Suffolk County, New York, USA on August 10, 1916. She died on December 30, 1947, at 31 years old when my mother was only 5 years old. When she was 1 year old, she was fostered then adopted right away by Victor Sowinsky, also Polish. We don't know if the families knew each other and Victor Sowinsky agreed to help out by adopting her, as they already had their own children.
We are wondering who Janet's parents were as they would have immigrated over here then Janet being their first American born. I am wondering if there is any communication back to a family in Poland that may know of this situation. Where Janet's mother gave birth to a girl on Aug 10, 1916 but had to give her up for adoption because the father was not around for a variety of reasons of that day.
Thank you for your help.
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Cheri Vanden BergPO Top Contributor & Patron
Joined: 16 Oct 2011
Replies: 504
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Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2016 10:32 am
Post subject:
Hi, you could start with getting Janet's birth certificate. That will have her parents names on it.
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SophiaPO Top Contributor
Joined: 05 Oct 2014
Replies: 1545
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Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2016 11:57 am
Post subject:
Hi,
I see from your tree on Ancestry that you have the various census records for her, which is great. You can see her name as Jennie and as Janette. Makes perfect sense! If her parents were from Poland, her birth name was likely JANINA which is usually rendered as Jennie, but she could have easily turned that into Janet if she wanted to. So do look for a birth certificate, as Cheri suggested, but expect that it may say Janina Kopek.
Best of luck,
Sophia
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SophiaPO Top Contributor
Joined: 05 Oct 2014
Replies: 1545
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Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2016 7:33 am
Post subject:
Hi again,
Another thought - - try to find Victor Sowinsky's marriage record. There is at least a small chance that his wife Anna's maiden name might be Kopek. That would make Janet the child of one of Anna's brothers. Victor Sowinsky, by the way, would likely be spelled Wiktor Sowinski.
Best,
Sophia
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Posted: Fri Feb 12, 2016 6:03 pm
Post subject:
Thank you so much for responding. I spend so many hours looking for information. I will get the birth certificate and death as well. I did look up Anna's and had them both in my tree for a while, I may stlll add back. Actually, her name is not Kopek, it is Ryozkowsa. I have thought about Janet being a relation, but they did take in fosters on a regular basis and ended up adopting Janet. I spoke to Victor Sowinsky's grand-daughter and great grandson several months ago. She is much older now, but does remember Janet as a foster child/boader, then adopted into the family. I will let you know what I find out. If you find anything, please let me know. Thank you all for your support!!
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SophiaPO Top Contributor
Joined: 05 Oct 2014
Replies: 1545
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Posted: Sat Feb 13, 2016 9:14 am
Post subject:
Hi again,
May I ask your source for her surname being "Ryozkowsa" ? It seems not to be a correct spelling and I wonder if it is something where someone transcribed it as best they could but got it slightly wrong. I may be able to help you get back to a correct spelling, and that may open up some source documents for you. Wild guess for this moment: RYSZKOWSKA
Sophia
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