​Bridgewater Local Finds Half Sister Through DNA Testing​

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Jenn Roster of Bridgewater had been an only child for the past 42 years — or so she thought. It wasn't until she became curious about her ancestry and purchased a 23andMe DNA kit when she discovered a half sister.

"It's like a reverse adoption. Like you find out when you are an adult that you were actually adopted," Roster, 42, said. "I want to be in denial, and but it's real. It's surreal. I don't know how to explain it."

Roster grew up in Bridgewater and was raised by her grandmother and mother. She never asked about her biological father. As she got older, her mom met someone else and married.

"He's been my stepdad for 20-something years, so I never had to look for a dad because I had one," Roster said.

Out of "pure curiosity" for her ancestry, she decided to purchase a 23andMe DNA kit last year. She was surprised at first to find out that she wasn't German and Italian but was French and Jewish. But the shocking news of finding a long-lost sibling ended up sitting in her email inbox for months.

Roster would get periodic emails saying they found new relatives of hers, but she didn't recognize any of them and let it be. Then last December, a cousin named Scott reached out to her saying he knew her biological father, Bobby Goeller.

Connecting the dots, they found that Roster was a half sister to Chrissy Goeller.

Roster later found out that her parents had her when they were very young, in their 20s. They never married, and Roster's mom ended up raising her on her own because her dad wasn't a good influence at the time.

Roster's father ended up turning a new leaf and had another child, Chrissy Goeller. Goeller was also raised as an only child.

"It's crazy to both find out we have a sibling," Roster said.

Goeller, who is now 28, said it was, "Totally crazy! Mind-blowing. Exciting" to find out she had a sister.

Unfortunately, when Roster found Goeller, her father had just died. She wasn't able to meet him but is still trying to connect with Goeller.

Goeller said she was sad that Roster was unable to meet their amazing dad.

Roster had planned to visit Goeller and her cousins in Florida, but then the coronavirus pandemic hit.

"We are bummed," Roster said of not being able to meet in person yet.

In the meantime, the sisters have connected through social media and have been sharing stories and photos with one another.

"All of my emotions came flooding in," Roster said. "We kept asking each other questions and found out we have so many similarities it was so crazy. I am still in shock."

Some of the similarities include they are both 5 feet, 9 inches tall, have hazel eyes, love animals, and rescue dogs. Comparing childhood photos, Roster says they look like twins.

"It's been a pretty intense ride," Roster said. Looking forward, she is excited for the day they can travel and meet.

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