Oprah's secret - A sibling she never knew

The bonds of family weigh lightly upon the spirit of those who savor every moment of fellowship with kin. According to Pop Eater, cultivating family bonds was on Oprah’s mind when she announced her "secret". On Monday’s "The Oprah Show," Oprah,56, discovered her mystery to the world: she had a 48-year-old half-sister of whom she had never known until last year. It makes you wonder who took out the short term cash to afford to find out this information and finally bring it to light.

What Oprah's secret was

Music man John Tesh is who many expected to be Oprah's mystery when it came to rekindling old love sparks. Nevertheless, the truth was more heart-warming than that. Oprah announced that her half-sister Patricia, who had been given up for adoption by Oprah’s mother Vernita Lee in 1963, currently lives in Milwaukee. Patricia did have kids, a boy and a girl. They are adults now though. Patricia wanted to keep the information out of the public eye although she found out in 2007 that she and Oprah had the same mother. She was not able to get a hold of Vernita Lee although that was her first attempt. Oprah explained she was touched by the concern Patricia had.

Oprah did not know her mother was ever pregnant. Patricia was kept a huge secret. Winfrey had been living with her father at the time however saw her mother on occasion. Oprah's mystery turned into an excellent family story after there was some DNA testing done. Oprah met her half-sister for the first time on Thanksgiving 2010, and Vernita Lee was there, too. "The news that literally shook me to my core," is what Oprah said. This was how the situation was explained to her.

A complicated double personality

There is an interesting twist to the Oprah/Patricia story, CNN accounts. A half sibling named Patricia living in Milwaukee was one Winfrey had and already knew of. The death of that Patricia occurred recently. 2003 was the year. The adoptive parents named Patricia who was given up for adoption though, not Vernita Lee. It was not planned for the names to match. The coincidence is evident.

Articles cited

CNN

marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2011/01/24/oprahs-big-announcement/

Pop Eater

popeater.com/2011/01/24/oprah-winfrey-secret-sister/

Oprah’s family secret revealed: A sister’s reunion

youtube.com/watch?v=96L1eeUhmaw