A Cousin I Never Knew: How a Smart Match™ on MyHeritage Unlocked My Family’s Hidden Past

For over 30 years, I’ve been exploring my family’s genealogy. It’s a passion that began with a single, cryptic letter dated December 26, 1939 — one of the few traces left by my paternal grandfather, René Felumb, who died ten years before I was born.

Christian Felumb. Photo enhanced by MyHeritage

In the letter, he mentioned someone named Hedda. The letter was addressed to my father, and it was written in the midst of World War II. But who was Hedda?

Letter from René Felumb to his son Roger, dated December 26, 1939: “Hedda has gone to Saint-Jean until the 2nd for the holidays…”

The question lingered for decades. I often wondered if she might have been the daughter of Raoul Nordling — the renowned Swedish diplomat known for negotiating the preservation of Paris in August 1944. After all, Nordling was my father’s godfather. With no concrete evidence, I tucked Hedda into a separate, ambiguous branch of my family tree, unsure of how — or if — she truly belonged.

Piecing together a puzzle without a guide

My father never spoke of our family history. He was, as we say in French, taiseux — reserved to the point of secrecy. He once suggested I become a dentist, never revealing that both my grandfather and great-grandfather had been dentists. I later discovered that my great-grandfather, Edvard Felumb, had moved from Norway to Paris and worked as a dental surgeon. My grandfather followed in his footsteps. My father chose general medicine. And me? I was left to uncover this lineage on my own.

It was through tireless research — combing through archives, visiting churches and cemeteries, and collaborating with a Danish cousin — that I traced our paternal roots back to 1490. I even traveled to Denmark and Norway in search of answers. Eventually, I imported my entire family tree into MyHeritage, drawn by its international reach and depth of records.

Birth of Christian’s great-grandfather, Edvard Mathias Felumb, in Arendal, Norway, on May 11, 1844. Church Records of Norway, 1815–1938, MyHeritage collections.

An unexpected match

One day, while checking my MyHeritage account, I received a Smart Match™ notification. There was a genealogical match connecting me with someone named Catherine. Our shared relative? René Felumb — my grandfather. The match wasn’t just interesting — it was life-changing. Catherine was my first cousin.

And Hedda? She wasn’t the daughter of a diplomat after all. She was my father’s half-sister. My aunt. Suddenly, an entire chapter of my family history emerged from the shadows.

I was completely surprised. My father was 12 when Hedda was born, and I was 6 when she passed away. I could have known her.

Hedda died tragically in a car accident at just 30 years old. I never had the chance to meet her. But now I know who she was — not a footnote in an old letter, but part of my family.

A late connection, deeply cherished

Since discovering Catherine, we’ve developed a close bond. We write to each other often. We’ve met twice in Paris, and I cherish our connection. She’s my only first cousin — a treasure I never expected to find so late in life.

Christian and Catherine, cousins reunited in Paris

Now retired, I travel frequently between Norway, Australia — where my daughter lives — and the United States, home to other cousins. But this discovery stands out as one of the most profound moments in my genealogical journey.

My father was a great secret-keeper. Thanks to MyHeritage, I gained a cousin. A real one. A wonderful first cousin.

Many thanks to Christian for sharing his incredible story with us. If you have also made an incredible discovery with MyHeritage, we’d love to hear about it! Please send it to us via this form or email it to us at stories@myheritage.com.