This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/7aB.2ACEAE/2259.2.1 Message Board Post: Hi Stella, I have Helen's death certificate, which says she was born in Austria, and her father was George Opelliantic. I know she married Joseph Balardo in 1910, and either before or after that they moved to Michigan. As the story goes, her family was not pleased she married Joseph, so they left Canada to come to the States. What makes this even more difficult is that supposedly the spelling of her husband's family name at some point was changed from "Balardeaux" to "Balardo." Supposedly, the family was embarrased of their French Canadian Indian heritage and wanted to pass as Italian. Joseph's death certificate lists his father as Vincent Balardo from Canada. Mother's name is unknown. I don't have exact locations of births or an exact marriage date/place, so I am unable to obtain a marriage certificate or birth certificates without that information. Helen did have three sons, all born in Michigan. I will have to get their birth certificates to see if the mothers maiden name is the sam! e. I had thought of obtaining Helen's social security application, since her maiden name would then be in her own writing - straight from the source, as they say. Unfortunately, Joseph died in 1931 before social security came along, so I won't be able to get the same information for him. I have tried searching passenger lists, but there are precious few "Balardo" ancestors anywhere - and absolutely no Opelliantic ancestors. The family shows up in the U.S. census in Michigan in 1930, and that is the only census they appear in, even though they were in the states for close to 20 years by then. For now, I will obtain birth certificates for the sons, a copy of the social security application for Helen, and continue looking for both surnames in Canada. Thanks for the help!