Lee Erwin Reporting
lerwin@clarksvillenow.com

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – It was an emotional family reunion between three sisters Tuesday in Clarksville as their families came together after years of separation after one of the sisters was adopted 46 years ago.

Sisters Kristi Murphy and Kerri Hauser, met their older sister Kimberly Opiela for the first time in the Comfort Inn parking lot in Clarksville and shared hugs, kisses, flowers and plenty of conversation about what separated them and what brought them together.

The three women’s mother, Sharen Bergren, traveled from Duluth, Minnesota to Titusville, Florida in 1967 and gave birth to a child who she was told was a little red-headed boy.

Bergren passed away last year and then a few months ago, Bergren’s sister received a letter from Opiela saying she was Bergren’s daughter who had been put up for adoption all those years ago.

The two sisters, Murphy and Hauser, along with their mother, had been looking for information on the child who they thought was a boy. Years ago, as a way to help protect the identity of adoptive parents, hospitals would often tell young mothers the opposite sex of a child.

Through online searches, exchanging photographs and DNA testing Murphy and Hauser were convinced that Opiela was truly their older sister. There was a lot of talk Tuesday between the three women about catching up over the next few days and sharing lots of family stories and photographs.

Opiela talked about seeing her sisters for the first time. “It is surreal. They’re beautiful, everything that I have seen and read about Sharen and her kids and I would have just been honored to have known her. It’s wonderful being here and seeing them,” Opiela said.

Two of the sisters had long trips for the reunion. Murphy lives in Clarksville but Hauser traveled from Duluth, Minnesota and Opiela came from her home in Vicksburg, Mississippi where she grew up as a child. Her daughter Michaela Parham came with her from Mississippi.

See a video of the reunion and a touching interview with Kimberly Opiela below: