My father walked out on my mother 35 years ago - my brothers and I had all left home by then, 2 of us were married, and although we weren't small children any more it was still a tremendous shock. He moved around other parts of Oz and eventually remarried, but we are pretty sure there are no more of us; the new wife was over 60 when they married. We found out 5 years ago that he died in 1991.

However he obviously didn't tell the new wife that he had been married to my mother for over 25 years, and that he had 3 children by her. The information on his death certificate says no previous marriages and no children. That means that whoever gave the information for the certificate (usually the remaining spouse) knew nothing of his past, or of the cheating and gambling that had gone on before he left - all of which came out afterwards. One would think that in a country town everyone knew everyone else's business but not so in this case!

I have wondered that, if I am not named on my father's death certificate, does this mean I don't really exist? (pinches arm - yep, it hurts so I must be alive)

Cheers
JennieG