Comments on: In Memoriam: Susan Friel-Williams (1954-2021)

By: Dr. Randolph Severson

Dr. Randolph Severson — Thu, 11 Nov 2021 20:49:05 +0000

I am so sorry to hear of Susan’s passing. May she know the deep peace that through re-uniting so many families she with resolve and courage, empathy and understanding, to so many, many others. I didn’t know Susan well but I knew her and knew about her. She was one of the good ones, true to her beliefs, to the best in herself, to the best in all of us. She will be missed.

By: Marley Greiner

Marley Greiner — Sun, 07 Nov 2021 16:52:02 +0000

In reply to Deb Schwarz. Thanks for sharing this, Deb! I wonder how many reunions Susan was able to accomplish. Every find, for me, is a big screw you the state, and shows how ludicrous this stupid government-sanctioned and created adoption secrecy scam is. Let people handle their own relationships.

By: Deb Schwarz

Deb Schwarz — Sun, 07 Nov 2021 05:59:20 +0000

I’m so sad to hear of Susan’s passing. She was my search angel finding who I call “Guido” with a flashlight in Pa that completed my search. Susan had very tough news for me…even worse than death and she delivered it with grace and compassion. Then we worked together with TIES. She did some very tough searches gratis (one that I remember involved a priest). Susan…may you rest in peace and know that so many adoptees benefited from your search skills and compassion.

By: Marley Greiner

Marley Greiner — Sat, 06 Nov 2021 16:44:51 +0000

In reply to Lisa Murray (Christina Elizabeth Lindner). Thanks so much for posting your wonderful memorial to Susan. Such a beautiful story!

By: Lisa Murray (Christina Elizabeth Lindner)

Lisa Murray (Christina Elizabeth Lindner) — Sat, 06 Nov 2021 15:25:28 +0000

One winter day I sat on my couch scrolling through Facebook posts when I decided to make a random post in a random adoption group myself. I had done it a few times before; “Hi, my adoptive name is Lisa Jo Murray and I was born on October 26th, 1980 in San Francisco California at Children’s Hospital. I was adopted through county services. I am looking for my birth family”. Over the next 30 minutes I got a few likes but then a comment was posted; “I have the microfilm for the San Francisco children’s hospital for the date you were born. If you would like, I can look at it and see if we can find your birth name and birth mothers name?” She made it sound so easy, and for her it was. She knew it was impossible to get your sealed adoption records and she knew the chances of me ever running in to anyone else with any resource to help me was probably zero as well. She did not need to help me, but she did. Vultures in the past had asked for anything from $200-5000 just to “get started” on a search. This literal angel swooped in and had found me my birth mother and 2 half sisters within a few hours; something my own private investigator step dad couldn’t even do for me. By the end of that night I was talking on the phone with my sisters and writing messenger messages with my actual birth mom!!! 6 years later and I am so grateful for what she has given me; she gave me…ME! I had an instant connection with my sisters and would consider one of them my soul mate. I see where my features came from; and apparently the answer to the question I have gotten from others the most throughout my life is, Poppy; my mesmerizing eyes came from Poppy! I am so saddened to hear of her passing; a genuine and true angel who helped so many people find “home” has gone home.