Kerry Kenny’s Greek father does not know that she is alive. Nor does Kerry know whether he is alive, but that won’t stop her searching.
The 43-year-old mother of one is desperately trying to find her father, Angelos, (name withheld), who as a young man had a ‘forbidden’ relationship with Kerry’s mother in Patras, Greece.
Ms Kenny did not know her father existed, nor who her real mother was because her grandmother kept it a secret from her.
“It was just wrong back in the 1960s to have a mixed marriage, or to be a single mother, so my grandmother made up a story that I was the illegitimate child of her sister who was too ill to look after me,” revealed Kerry to Neos Kosmos.
“Meanwhile my father came to Australia in December 1965 to marry my mother but Nan didn’t accept him being Greek and she never let mum know.”
Ms Hensen told her mother of this only two weeks ago who said that if she had known, would have said yes to the marriage proposal.
“I do feel angry with Nan as the decision she made 43 years ago is still haunting me to this day and I’m still looking to find out who I am,” said Kerry.
The only clues that Ms Kenny has are five photographs of her mother and father at the time they were together, and her mother’s recollection of her experience.
21-year-old Carol Hensen and Ms Kenny’s godmother, Ethne Pauluse met Mr Theodorakis on August 4, 1965 on oceanliner Patris where he was working as a steward.
Once the ship reached Athens, Mr Theodorakis invited them to stay in Patras with his brother or brother-in-law Sotirios, his wife, and his two year old daughter who they called ‘Bebeca’ (Greek for beautiful girl).
The girls left for London shortly after where Ms Hensen gave birth to Kerry before handing her to her mother to bring up in Australia in a fabricated life.
“I don’t know if they told her not to see me, but I was told that my mum was my sister,” said Ms Kenny.
“When she came one day to my school to tell me she was my mother, I was not surprised because I always thought that it was really strange that my ‘parents’ were really old.”
Ms Hensen although did not pursue her father straight away has been seeking him for the past 12 years, particularly now that she has a family and is hoping that her five year old daughter Rachael will have the chance to meet her grandfather and cousins.
She says that Mr Theodorakis’ brother’s address at the time as written on the back of her mother’s photo was DB Arios or DB Agios 33.
It has allegedly been demolished and Ms Kenny says the Byzantino Motel stands in its place.
If you know of this address, or know Angelos Theodorakis contact editor@neoskosmos.com.au so that we can help Ms Kenny locate her father.