Finding missing Grandmother

[Nicpic21]

Hi, I am new to Roots. I have been trying to trace my family tree. I specifically wanted to find out what happened to my grandmother. She left Sheffield in the 60's leaving her children behind with their father who died shortly after so the children grew up in care. She has not been seen since. I have found her parents and siblings on Ancestry but I have got no further with her. I know her maiden and married name and well as her year of birth. I don't know where she went after leaving Sheffield but I know she was born in Flyde Lancashire. Any ideas of where to post on this site. I am due to do a DNA test through Ancestry but I don't hers would be on there as I suspect she didn't want to be found. I am not sure if she is still alive or not. She would be 98.

[shellyesq]

Welcome to RootsChat

RootsChat is meant for finding ancestors, rather than living relatives. Personal details of any people known or thought to be living will be removed, in accordance with RootsChat policy, to avoid spamming and other abuses. So people here will be able to give you general tips and hints how to proceed, but not any concrete details.

You will also find more tips here:

Topic: Tracing Living Relatives
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,261434.0.html
and
Topic: Searching for living relatives and Rootschat
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,142443.0.html

[Spelk]

If you have not already done so you should get her birth certificate to find out her date of birth which you can then maybe use to confirm some death is hers even though the surname may be changed.
You might be able to find her on the 1939 register and that could tell you her new name after she left in the 60s. Usually the name changes for women are due to them getting married but it also applies if they just changed their name to that of the man they were living with.
If she emigrated then it might be very hard to trace her.
DNA test could be useful as she may have had children after she left and they or their children might have taken a test.
Be careful though. Your link to them might be a pleasant surprise or a trauma to these possible cousins or aunts or uncles.

[CaroleW]

Welcome to Rootschat

If her husband died shortly after she left it's possible she remarried.  It's also possible any further children she may have had are unaware of her family background so it could be a shock to them.

Given her age -  she may have died but my neighbours mother is 98 so we can never assume 

If you make 2 more posts - we may be able to help you get started via the Rootschat Personal Message system.   All you have to do is reply to each of the 3 replies already here

[Glen in Tinsel Kni]

She may have continued to use her married name, reverted to her maiden name or taken the surname of someone she subsequently met. A later marriage or death record in England/Wales in her married or maiden name would be in the index but if those options are common names it isn't easy to  narrow down the most likely matching records. If she was using or known by another name you aren't aware of then it is going to be very difficult.