Digging Up Family Roots (2024)

Phyllis and Ray took a detour from their Croatia itinerary to trace Phyllis’ family roots.

By Phyllis and Ray L., 2-time travelers from Punta Gorda, FL

On our first full day in Zagreb, November 30, my husband Ray and I rented a car and drove about an hour southwest to the village where my grandmother, Luba Hibler, went to Catholic Church, next to the Duhovni Center in Vrbovsko. It was the day before All Saints Day and a celebration was being prepared, however the priest unlocked the church door and let us spend as long a time there as we wanted.

The church was damaged twice, once during World War II, then again during the homeland wars in the 90s. It has been totally restored and is quite beautiful now.

Then we went on to Jablon where she was born and lived until she was thirteen. We stopped at a café/bar and there was a customer who spoke very broken English, but was anxious to help. When I said Hibler, he took me by the hand and led me outside where he pointed to the Hibler house. He called the man who came right over (it was Sunday), however he was not a relative. We called him "the other Hibler,” who ended up being John Hibler. The poor man looked confused. He could not speak a word of English, but when asked who his Hibler great grandparents were, he answered John and Katerina—mine also.

He invited us to his home where we met his gracious wife who also could not speak or understand English. It was a bit awkward, but so exciting and emotional for me.

Then we were off for Ravna Gora where my grandfather was born and raised until the age of nine. His name was Albert Les' and in the U.S., he changed it to Lesh. We stopped at a local restaurant, Breza Ravna Gora, where we met a woman, a relative I'm sure, with the last name Les' who was the proprietor. We were never able to communicate well, but my husband saw a great resemblance.

We visited a local cemetery where locals were cleaning the beautiful granite gravestones in preparation of All Saints Day. We found a dozen gravestones with the name of Les'.

The countryside was beautiful and forested, and our little excursion will stay with me for a long time. Our Trip Experience Leader, Alan Damjanic, was a great help to us in planning our route that day. Thank you Alan ... we hope to see you again.

Whether or not you have family roots, you’ll connect with locals when you join us on our Small Ship Adventure.