94-year-old woman makes 2,700-mile trek across country to say goodbye to sister, 90, for the final time

It’s not goodbye, it’s see you later.

Barbara Carolan, 94, traveled nearly 3,000 miles across the country to visit with her sister Shirley, 90, one last time before they “see each other in heaven.”

Barbara’s granddaughter, Stephanie Atkinson Shively, 47, accompanied the nonagenarian on her journey and secretly captured the tearjerker of a moment on camera.

@stephanieatkinson

#goodbye #sistersforever #notgoodbye I took my 94 year okd geandma to see her 90 year okd sister across country. This will be their last visit.

♬ original sound – Stephanie Atkinson Shively

The sisters’ reunion was years in the making. Due to the pandemic neither sister was able to travel for three years. But after careful planning, Barbara made the 2,700-mile trip from New Hampshire to Nevada so she could see her sister, most likely for the last time.

“They waited so long to see each other, and if you don’t know if you’re going to see someone again, you know, especially siblings, it must be really hard,” Shively told WMUR.

“She said, ‘I really think this will be the last time I see my sister,” Barbara’s granddaughter recalled.

Barbara and Shirley spent several days together, catching up on old times and enjoying each other’s company.

When it was time for Barbara to return home, the sisters had one last conversation that pulled at the heartstrings of millions.

“We had a wonderful, wonderful time,” Barbara told her younger sister.

“If we don’t see each other [again] on this earth, we’ll see each other in heaven,” Shirley proclaimed.

“You betcha, you betcha.”

Shirley begged her sister not to say goodbye.

“I’m not going to! There’s no way I’m going to say goodbye to you,” Barbara replied. “Until we meet again.”

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Stephanie initially shared the clip of her grandmother and her sister’s emotional conversation for her family to see, so she was shocked when the following day it had millions of views.

She later said the footage served as a reminder to treasure the memories they’ve made with their family members.

And if one clip of Barbara and Shirley wasn’t enough, Stephanie captured Barbara waving goodbye to her sister one last time.

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Please share this beautiful moment between two sisters.