Marcia,

When I was a teenager, I used to worry about my surname dying out... I was completely unaware of the many 3rd and 4th cousins I had with my surname.

I wouldn't think of your effort as a waste of time. I am sure you had enjoyable times doing your research. If you have not posted or published your genealogy, I encourage you to do it. I have had many contacts with 5th and even cousins 10-times removed who have helped me, or I have helped working on our common ancestors.

Marcia, I agree with Duane. No, I would go even further. You're LESS of an "orphan" for having done this research. You've helped your family tree remain viable, by recording some of the information, and passed it on, not in your DNA perhaps, but in your words and files. I encourage your to record and share your work, and give it back to EVERYONE!

If nothing else, you have "nothing to lose" by sharing your information, and chances are: you've collected some information that somoene will someday want and not have -- save for the work you've done.

You will have done your family proud.

I'm sorry to hear of your loss, Marcia. It's a strange feeling to be an orphaned adult. We no longer NEED our parents, and maybe even don't get along with them that well. But once they are gone, we can no longer access their pasts, their stories. To the extent that we preserve and pass along any of that, we keep them alive in the only way possible. The data is only the bones -- flesh it out. Get those stories down, and published. You'll be glad you did.

Valorie in Black Diamond, Washington