Emma Rymas says she was heartbroken, but couldn’t fight back after a bitter divorce left her in the dark over where her son was. Nearly seven decades later, Rymas’ sister-in-law sought help to reunite the pair, and succeeded. Jacob Rascon reports from Apple Vally for the NBC4 News at 5 p.m. on May 14, 2012.
Ninety-four-year-old Emma Rymas last saw her only child, Robert Fianelli, 67 years ago.
He was 6 years old, and Rymas and her husband went through a divorce. She moved to California with the understanding that her son would be joining her soon.
But he never did.
"He was just a boy," said Rymas, who lives in Apple Valley. "A nice boyish boy. I was broken hearted, but I couldn’t do anything."
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After decades of searching, Rymas almost gave up hope. But last month, her sister-in-law Mary Fantino went to a church leader for help.
“I said, well, give me the info you have about him and I’ll try (to help),” said the Rev. Nicholas Carpenter.
After some hours on Google, he found an address and Fantino sent a letter. Her son had been around the world with the Navy before becoming a mailman.
Fianelli called his aunt, who broke the news to his mother.
“The look on her face was just, and I don’t want to cry -- it was really something,” Fantino said.
Fianelli lives in Nevada with his wife and they have children who have children of their own.
“The first thing he said was, 'Hi mom,'" Rymas said. "It was tearful.
"I’m a grandma, and a -- what do you call it? -- I’m not used to that,” Rymas added, referring to her newly-discovered role as a great grandmother.
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