About me
I’m Shelley Hecker, your guide, researcher and writer, based in Evanston, Illinois.
After retiring from a twenty year career in corporate strategy and marketing, I cultivated my passion for genealogy and family history while researching my own family’s roots. I followed one branch deep into American history, to some of the earliest European settlers of what is now the United States.
Another branch took me - virtually - across the ocean to Lebanon, where I found living relatives to whom I am linked several generations back. They shared rich oral history that can’t be found in any official documents. The names of my ancestors were just the beginning; it was even more exciting to learn how their lives and choices were influenced by the historical circumstances in which they lived. In some cases, it was even possible to get insights into their personalities.
I’ve long been a history and culture enthusiast. Over the past thirty years I’ve visited 58 countries, always trying to bring a learning mindset to the experience.
Uncovering a family’s history takes curiosity, persistence, and attention to detail. It is full of big discoveries and the small details that give the story texture. It is a thrilling experience for a researcher to see each piece of this puzzle fall into place, and to stitch together the richest story possible.
I look forward to joining you on your journey of discovery.
