How a house move revealed a family's heartbreaking Auschwitz secret

[Behind the Aegis]

Sixteen years ago, Marta Seiler set about the mundane task of decluttering her house ahead of a move and came across a box of papers handed to her by her aunt that she had unthinkingly dumped in the attic.

What she found shook her to her core. “The very first piece of paper I picked up turned out to be the last message my paternal grandmother, Cecilia Lovi, ever sent before being transported to Auschwitz,” says Ms Seiler, 75, with tears in her eyes.

Her grandmother’s postcard was one piece of the family’s Holocaust history that had been kept secret all her life — and Marta’s initial reaction was to put it all away and try and not think about it. “I was overwhelmed and confused,” she says, “the historical had become personal.”

The discovery led to a series of heartbreaking revelations about her family’s past – but they would also help rekindle her Jewish faith.

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[brer cat]

1. That is a remarkable account.

I can't imagine how painful it was for her to piece that family puzzle together.

[peace.poet]

2. Behind the Aegis, I am consistently blown away

by the types of powerful, humanity-embracing stories you post, and I often specifically seek out those with your name. *Thank you,* for this and so many more ...

[Skittles]

3. hear, hear

I absolutely agree - powerful pieces indeed

this one......