Genealogists on the BBC series Heir Hunters traced the 69-year-old woman, who did not want to be named, to an east Durham village, to tell her she was was the sole beneficiary of inheriting her cousin’s full estate worth half a million pounds.

Her cousin, Joanna, lived alone in her apartment in Brooklyn, New York.

She had lived in the USA since her parents settled there when she was just one-year-old in 1948, and until her death aged 75 on November 7, 2022.

Joanna (Image: FINDERS INTERNATIONAL)

With no children, no siblings and no known relatives in the country, it was the building manager who notified authorities of her death.

As she had not made a will, genealogists were called in to trace her family and establish if there were any living relatives entitled to inherit her estate.

Her 69-year-old cousin in County Durham was identified and told she would be inheriting the entire estate worth £500,000.

She said: “I honestly didn’t know what to think. I put the phone down at first.

“But overnight, I thought I’d better check what it was about.

“Then there was a knock on the door. A really lovely former police officer from Finders International introduced himself with identification and gently explained that they believed I had a first cousin in America called Joanna— and that sadly she had passed away.”

The woman said she did know Joanna, but they hadn’t met since she was a young girl. Her mum and Joanna’s dad, George, were siblings.

Joanna’s father, George (Image: FINDERS INTERNATIONAL)

She added: “I was stunned. Then I was told that I was in-line for a valuable inheritance, because Jo had died without a will.

“Everything since then has been a whirlwind. I’ve been to New York to appear in court as part of the inheritance proceedings. While there I visited a memorial bench Jo’s friends had dedicated to her in a nearby park and did some sightseeing too.

“It was emotional — but also an incredible experience.”

New York bench in memory of Joanna (Image: FINDERS INTERNATIONAL)

Joanna’s father, George, would often visit the family in the UK and would send letters including photos of Joanna and her achievements throughout her life.

The woman added that her family in County Durham “always knew Jo was there and got snippets about her life”.

While she hadn’t met with Joanna in decades, they had exchanged Christmas cards and letters.

She said: “I had actually wondered why I hadn’t received a card  from Jo last Christmas. I couldn’t believe the news. Jo was the last cousin that I had. I felt numb.”

Now, she has said she wants to ‘honour’ that bond, by arranging a headstone for George and Joanna in their east County Durham village, so the UK family can have a place to ‘visit and remember them’, as well as arranging for the family here to visit New York.

Katelyn Bennett from Finders International, said: “We were thrilled to locate Georgina and help unite her with her inheritance.

“While Jo hadn’t made a will so we don’t know her final wishes, we like to think she would have been happy that her only remaining cousin and final connection to the UK is benefiting from it.

“Jo’s story shows the power of connection and the importance of our work on a human basis – even across continents.”