“I want to go to Austria,” Freda (Schadl) Mertz said to her husband, Ken, while sitting in their living room in June of 2017.

“OK!” Ken answered.

That little conversation started a big adventure for Freda, in not only visiting the beautiful country of Austria, but also finding extended family.

In September of 2017, the Mertzes embarked on a weeklong trip to Austria, which was the homeland of Freda’s parents - Joseph and Josephine (Solderits) Schadl - who immigrated to America in the 1920s.

Freda and Ken started in Vienna, where they rented a car to drive through the countryside to the bed-and-breakfast they were staying at in the town of Glasing.

Freda, who was raised in Stiles, knew her parents and relatives had lived in this area of Austria. She had dates and names of towns where the family had resided.

The Mertzes decided to venture downtown to Inzenhof City Hall, where they shared Freda’s mother’s name with the staff to see if they could trace where she had once lived. Unfortunately, the office did not have any records since the territory was Austria-Hungary at the time and the local church, which housed a good majority of the records, had burned. Most records were still in Hungary, but there was a chance there might be a record in the cathedral in Gussing.

The Mertzes went to Gussing and, after an extensive search, found the cathedral housed no record of Freda’s parents. They returned to City Hall to inquire if there were any cemeteries in the area.

At the town cemetery, they came across a tombstone that showed names Freda was familiar with - Josef and Frieda Muszits. These two names were listed on the stone without birth or death dates. Freda thought this could be her first cousin.

They returned to City Hall inquiring about the whereabouts of Josef Muszits. Someone who happened to be there said he knew Josef and where he resided. This new acquaintance took the Mertzes to the house of Josef Muszits. Luckily, Josef was home.

After Freda introduced herself and explained her story, the two instantly realized they were cousins. Their mothers were sisters.

“America is here!” Josef shouted into the house to his wife, also named Frieda, as he invited the Mertzes inside.

Josef explained he lived in his grandparents’ house. He had taken care of his grandmother when her health was failing. After his grandmother’s passing, Josef and his wife continued living there. At that moment, Freda realized she was standing in the house her mother grew up in.

When Freda’s mother lived in the small Austrian town, the population was approximately 600. Today, it has decreased to roughly 300.

Josef then took the Mertzes to the house that Freda’s father had lived in, which was very close by - in Tschanigraben. The house is still standing, as is an old barn that dates back more than 100 years. While driving, Josef also pointed out the homes of other relatives in the area.

The Mertzes stayed with their newly discovered cousin for four hours, catching up and reminiscing. The Muszitses called two of their other cousins and asked them to come and meet Freda and Ken.

They decided to see a little of Gussing and explore a castle built in the year 1157. Upon exiting the castle, the Mertzes were met by yet another relative who heard they were in town. They were invited to spend some time with the family before heading back to Vienna.

Josef called other relations in Vienna to share with them that Ken and Freda would be in Vienna for two days. Alfred, a second cousin, met them early the next day, and they explored Vienna together.

When Freda and Ken returned to their hotel, there was a message for them from Franz Friehs, who happened to be another second cousin in the area who learned of their visit. Franz arranged to meet with them the next day. He provided Freda with information he obtained from Budapest, Hungary, regarding her father’s background.

Franz had a great deal of ancestry information on their family since he had been working on their family tree for quite some time. Not all of the Austrian relatives were fluent in English, but the reunited family members were able to communicate and get to know each other.

After experiencing this memorable trip where they met so many extended family members, the Mertzes now exchange emails with Franz and keep in touch with their Austrian family. In March, the Mertzes decided to return to Europe, and after letting Franz know their itinerary, he said he and his wife would take the train and meet them in Prague.

Also included on the second trip was Freda and Ken’s daughter-in-law Susan and her daughter Katelyn.

Freda is thankful she had the idea to visit Austria. She now has met more of her family than she ever imagined. The Mertzes continue to correspond with their newly found relatives and look forward to visiting them again.