A Derry family have given their sister’s son a warm welcome as he made the trip from America that she had planned before sadly passing away.
Dwayne Purnell re-traced the journey his mother, Catherine (Kay) O’Kane Purnell, had made 50 years before him, when she left Derry to travel to America as a teenage girl.
Kay left in 1966 and made a life for herself in Florence, New Jersey.
Over the years she had envisaged returning home to her family, but because of health complications it was a journey she was unable to realise.
Her older sister, Anna Gilmour explained: “My sister went to America in 1966 to work as a nanny, which was a common thing to do in those days. A lot of Derry girls went there to be Nanny’s at that time.
"I remember seeing the suitcases in the hallway the day she was leaving, never knowing if I would see my big sister again.
“Kay ended up settling in Florence New Jersey with her family."
She added: “Before she even went to America, Kay was a very sick child with severe asthma and she had to be anointed a number of times.
"Over the years she had many health issues and she had always wanted to come home to visit the family but was unable to do so before she passed away."
The warmer climate in America was supposed to ease the breathing difficulties brought on by Kay's asthma.
In 1976 her parents, William and Frances, made the trip to the US to visit, along with sister Esther.
Through the passing years Kay remained hopeful of visiting family in Derry, but her health deteriorated to the point she was unable to do so before she died of a brain haemorrhage on June 2, 2011.
Anna said: “Two of our sisters actually died within nine weeks of one another.
“After his mother died, Dwayne decided that he wanted to come home to see his Irish family, I think the death of our brother Jim then made him want to come as soon as he could."
She added: “We have always been in contact with him over the years, and were all looking forward to seeing him in person.
"Everyone that's left was there to see him.
“When I’m on the phone with him I keep thinking of him as the wee boy I’ve talked to over the years, but I forget he’s a grown man now with two children of his own.”
The family arranged a homecoming party at the Crescent Bar last Saturday when a special banner was unveiled adorned with the Irish and American flags.
They celebrated Dwayne's arrival and remembered Kay and other family members no longer with them.
Dwayne was overjoyed that he finally had the opportunity to meet his Irish family.
Anna concluded: "Dwayne brought something of our sister back with him, we thank him and welcome him to our family.
"He's already thinking about bringing his wife and boys over to Derry in future."
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