Iowa man, sister reunite thanks to Facebook, boy
Jan 13, 2013 | 1219 views | 0 0 comments | 3 3 recommendations | email to a friend | print
Clifford Boyson hugs his sister, Betty Billadeau of Florissant, Mo. on Saturday at the Hotel Blackhawk in Davenport, Iowa, Jan. 12, 2013. The two have been estranged for 60 years. (AP Photo/The Des Moines Register, Bryon Houlgrave)
Clifford Boyson hugs his sister, Betty Billadeau of Florissant, Mo. on Saturday at the Hotel Blackhawk in Davenport, Iowa, Jan. 12, 2013. The two have been estranged for 60 years. (AP Photo/The Des Moines Register, Bryon Houlgrave)
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DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa man has been reunited with his sister 65 years after the siblings were separated in foster care thanks to a 7-year-old friend who searched Facebook.

Clifford Boyson of Davenport met his sister, Betty Billadeau, in person on Saturday. Billadeau drove up from her home in Florissant, Mo., with her daughter and granddaughter for the reunion at a hotel in Davenport.

Boyson, 66, and Billadeau, 70, both tried to find each other for years without success. They were placed in different foster homes in Chicago when they were children.

Then 7-year-old Eddie Hanzelin, who is the son of Boyson's landlord, got involved.

Eddie managed to find Billadeau by searching his mom's Facebook account with Billadeau's maiden name. He recognized the family resemblance when he saw her picture.

"Oh, my God," Boyson said when he saw and hugged Billadeau.

"You do have a sister," Billadeau said.

"You're about the same height Mom was," Boyson said.

Billadeau's daughter, Sarah Billadeau, 42, and granddaughter, Megan Billadeau, 27, both wiped away tears and smiled during the reunion

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