In Search of Lara Elizabeth Lee

… an adoption story

Non Identifying Information

Jennifer (Lara) was born on September 8th 1968 at the Wellesley Hospital in Toronto. The time of birth was 6:35 a.m. She weighed 7lbs 10 oz.  Her Wellesley Hospital Chart Sheet indicates that DR. JR Norris delivered her, the OHSC No was 33352006,

The Consent to Admission  for the CAS of Metropolitan Toronto was signed  by Marianne on September 10th 1968 and witnessed by Miss Fraser.

Jennifer (Lara) was discharged from the Hospital on September 24th 1968 at 11:05 am. Jennifer’s (Lara) new family, her adoptive mother and father, her two brothers and her sister, all came to the hospital to pick her up. They were all very excited and it was a very happy event for everyone. She settled in, eating well and sleeping 5-6 hours a night. Jennifer (Lara) developed torticollis soon after she arrived at her adoptive home which resulted in a stiff neck. At the end of six months all was well as she had responded to physiotherapy and exercises done at home. By the time she was six months old, she was a large, chubby, contented baby who was very alert.


Her Adoptive Family as described by The Childrens Aid Society

Jennifer’s (Lara) adoptive parents believed in lots of love and spending time with all their children. The
environment was fairly structured with some routine. They also believed that being honest with their
children was very important.
The adoptive mother was in her mid thirties when Jennifer (Lara)  joined their family. She was a very
attractive, vivacious woman with fair hair and blue eyes. An only child, she grew up in Toronto and
both her parents were still alive. Her upbringing was fairly strict but not one without love. After
leaving school at age 17, she worked as a key punch operator in a large company and it was there
that she met her husband. They went out together for two and a half years and were engaged for a
year before they married. She continued to work until she became pregnant with her oldest child.
Jennifer’ s (Lara) adoptive mother did not return to work. Jennifer’s (Lara) adoptive mother had a circle of friends
whom she had known for most of her life. She enjoyed playing bridge with them.
She and her husband liked to entertain their friends or to visit them on weekends and occasionally
they would go to a show together. Quite centered on her home, she enjoyed baking and sewing.
She and all the family attended church regularly.

Jennifer’s (Lara) adopted father was in his mid thirties when Jennifer (Lara) joined the family. He was a good-
looking, quiet man with brown hair and blue eyes and a relaxed easy personality .The middle child
of a close-knit, middle class family, he had attended university and was an executive in a large
company at the time Jennifer
(Lara) was placed in the family. In his spare time he liked to garden, play sports and spend time with his children of whom he was very proud. However both he and his wife
felt that it was important for them to have a life together.
Three older children, two boys and a girl, were in Jennifer’s
(Lara) family when she joined them. They
were friendly, open children. At first Jennifer
(Lara) shared a room with her adoptive sister but the family moved to a bigger house in the suburbs where each child had a separate bedroom.

Additional Information:


-Jennifer’s
(Lara) adoptive parents owned their houses. Both were in the suburbs of Toronto.


-To our knowledge, Jennifer’s
(Lara) adoptive father did not graduate from university. He
completed Grade 13 at 16. He worked for a few years in one company and moved to another company where he remained in a middle management position. It was at the first company that he met Jennifer’s
(Lara) adoptive mother.


-Jennifer’s
(Lara) family were regular churchgoers. They were Anglican. (although there is conflicting information saying there were United)


-Jennifer’s
(Lara) adoptive mother’s parents were in their late fifties when Jennifer (Lara) was adopted. They were described as strict by Jennifer’s (Lara) adoptive mother although she and her mother were close. Her father was a blue collar worker. Her mother did not work.
They lived in Toronto.


-The social worker did not provide any further information about Jennifer’s
(Lara) physical
appearance.