Two sisters’ love came to an emotional end when they were reunited for what would likely be the last time after traveling to see each other became too much for both of them.
After visiting each other regularly over the years, Barbara Carolan, 94, who lives in New Hampshire, USA, and her sister Shirley, 90, who lives in Nevada, met in person for the last time.
An emotional one video posted by Barbara’s granddaughter, Stephanie Shively, shows the last time the couple said a tearful goodbye.
Their most recent visit before this special reunion was three years ago, when siblings, Barbara and Shirley, wanted to plan one last visit.
In the footage, Barbara, also known as ‘Gigi’, is seen talking to her sister and discussing how this will likely be the last time they see each other.
Shirley said, “If we don’t see each other on this earth, I’ll see you in heaven.”
Barbara Carolan, 94 (pictured left) and Shirley, 90 (pictured right) live a three-hour flight from each other, a difficult journey for the elderly couple to make
To which her older sister, Barbara, tearfully repeated, “You bet ‘cha.”
Shirley instructed Barbara not to say goodbye and said, “Until we meet again.” That is it.’
Stephanie, 47, revealed she had arranged the trip for her elderly grandmother’s birthday in September.
Barbara had reiterated to Stephanie that this would be her last trip to see her sister, Shirley, in person.
She told viewers she heard her older relatives having the emotional conversation early in the morning before their flight home.
She revealed, “I decided to record it so that maybe one day I can show it to my grandma when we get home and just show her how special their last face-to-face conversation was.”
“I pray they meet again,” she added, “we’ll see how that goes.”
Stephanie shared this heartwarming video to encourage other people to rekindle relationships with long-lost family members.
She said, “I was inspired to film this for my children to show them what sisterly love looks like.
“So many people who saw it said it encouraged them to reach out to relatives and that life is so short.”
Stephanie Shivley captured the emotional moment between her great aunt and grandmother early in the morning, just before she and her grandmother were due to return. Shirley told her sister not to say goodbye and that they would meet again
She explained why she made the trip with her grandmother: “I brought Gigi to Nevada from New Hampshire because she and her sister hadn’t seen each other in three years.
“They wanted to try to visit together one more time because they are older and the trip is hard for them.
She continued, “They’ve done it back and forth many times in their lives, but due to age and distance, this is most likely the last.
“They used to see each other more often, but they haven’t seen each other since 2020.”
Barbara’s granddaughter added emotionally: ‘This was so special to watch and see. I knew it would be special to take her to her sister’s for what she calls “her last time.”
‘I had no idea how special until I captured the farewell.’
Barbara (left) and Shirley (right) when they were younger
This comes weeks after pen pals Patsy Gregory and Carol-Ann Krause fulfilled their “lifelong wish” to meet in person.
Patsy, originally from Chorley, and Carol-Ann, who lives all the way across the Atlantic Ocean in South Carolina, have been corresponding for 68 years.
They began their transatlantic correspondence in 1955, sharing no fewer than 800 letters during that time.
The two 80-year-olds didn’t let distance separate their friendship as they never missed a birthday, a Christmas party or even a wedding anniversary.
Thanks to Pasty’s daughter, Steph Calam, 57, and her family, the two were finally able to meet in real life.
Pictured left: Barbara, also known as Gigi, waves and kisses her younger sister for what could be the last time. On the right is Stephanie, 47, who organized the trip for her grandmother, who said she wanted to see her sister for the last time
The Chorley woman thought she would only get a surprise party for her birthday but was stunned when her family gifted her a ticket to the US to see her lifelong pen pal.
Pasty flew 4,000 miles to see the woman she’d been talking to since she was 12.
Patsy described their first meeting: ‘It was quite emotional, it was beautiful. I recognized her immediately, she looked exactly like her photo.
‘I didn’t feel any nerves, I was excited. It was great to finally meet her.
“It was like I had seen her last week because we had known each other for so long.”
But Carol Ann was a little more nervous about their first meeting, describing herself as “a bundle of nerves” prior to their very first meeting.
The couple continued to share common interests as they grew older, despite the thousands of miles that separated them.
The lifelong friends spoke at length about their relationships while visiting local hotspots and enjoying delicious food.