In general, I like to focus my blog posts with tips, tricks, and strategies to get you, your image, your brand "out there" and recognizable. Every once and awhile, I veer off-topic to share a personal event, and today's post is one of those.
I just heard about the passing of my great aunt. My maternal grandmother's sister-in-law. Of course, the common reaction is, "So sad to hear," and it truly is.
But here's what makes it sad. She's the last of my grandmother's siblings to pass. And yup, they were all survivors. My grandmother returned back to her hometown in Czechoslovakia after the devastation of the Holocaust where she was fortunate enough to survive, along with 4 siblings (3 sisters and 1 brother).
To quickly summarize, the remaining survivors began to set up life again. They married. But in the early 50's it was easy to see that Europe had nothing to offer. Two sisters STAYED, never had their own children (sad), and passed away probably over 20 years ago. Her youngest brother went to Toronto, my grandparents (with my mom, a 3-year-old) went to Israel to live the pioneer lifestyle, and the other sister went to Italy for a few years while waiting to emigrate to Canada as well. Eventually, the three siblings reunited in Toronto where they all lived, raised children and grandchildren.
My great uncle and his wife (the woman to whom I'm mourning) set themselves up well in Toronto. He owned a very successful scrap-metal business and was very active in their local synagogue. He was vocal, outspoken, emotional and a tough man. His wife, in all memories I have, was always a "lady"....never left the house without makeup and took a very gracious back seat to her very outgoing spouse.
I can probably say I didn't even know her that well. I knew my other great aunt and uncle so much better. She was just overshadowed by her husband.
But that doesn't matter. What matters is this: She was a landmark, a milestone, a survivor. He coiffed hair, her accent, her cooking were all testaments to European Jewry. With her passing, a little fragment of history has now been lost too.
May her family be forever blessed by her memory. May her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews always remember her as a woman of valor, strength, and love.