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31 Jul 12 - 04:43 PM (#3384249) Subject: Obit: Mrrzy's Mom, atheist & Holocaust survivr From: Mrrzy Sudden but not exactly unexpected... I am still rather out of it, and things are very strange. Born in the part of Yugoslavia that had been Austro-Hungary before the war, Mom grew up secular, celebrating Christmas with live candles on the tree. When the Nazis came in though, she and her family were considered jews; mom was liberated from Auschwitz the day before her 16th birthday, apparently looking like those scarecrow skeletons that you couldn't tell if they were alive or not (she was). She escaped from behind the Iron Curtain with her little brother to France, and then came to the States in the early 50's where she married my dad whom she had met in Paris. As many of you know he was killed by terrorists in 1983, but mom endured. From the mid-sixties till dad's death we lived in Africa, mostly in the Ivory Coast, where Mom and Dad raised 4 daughters of whom I am the youngest. Mom also leaves 8 grandchildren (4 boys, 4 girls, 4 twins, 4 singletons), a great-granddaughter, and will have missed the birth of her first great-grandson by what is likely to be days rather than weeks. Also surviving her are her brother and Dad's, 10 niblings and their 24 children; and many cousins and their descendants, in North and South America, Eastern, Western and Central Europe, near Asia and the far East, West and North Africa and Down Under. An era has ended yet all seems the same. How odd. Love you all. |
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31 Jul 12 - 04:54 PM (#3384253) Subject: RE: Obit: Mrrzy's Mom, atheist & Holocaust survivr From: Charley Noble Mrrzy- My condolences to you and your family. Charley Noble |
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31 Jul 12 - 04:55 PM (#3384254) Subject: RE: Obit: Mrrzy's Mom, atheist & Holocaust survivr From: John MacKenzie Fascinating family history. Sorry to hear of her passing, but be thankfull for the fact that she made it in spite of all the horrors, and ergo you and your siblings are here. RIP |
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31 Jul 12 - 05:00 PM (#3384259) Subject: RE: Obit: Mrrzy's Mom, atheist & Holocaust survivr From: bobad My condolences for your loss. My dad's early life had some elements in common with your mom's, the best part being the escape from the hell that is war and finding a better life elsewhere. RIP Mrrzy's mom. |
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31 Jul 12 - 05:07 PM (#3384262) Subject: RE: Obit: Mrrzy's Mom, atheist & Holocaust survivr From: katlaughing {{{Hugs}}} for you, Mrzzy. You come from a very interesting family. Thanks for sharing more about your mom. It feels really weird once a person's last parent passes on. Most of us become orphans later in life...still nothing we'd like to have happen, but that's life. In sympathy, kat |
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31 Jul 12 - 05:47 PM (#3384277) Subject: RE: Obit: Mrrzy's Mom, atheist & Holocaust survivr From: Little Robyn Love to you and your family. Robyn in NZ |
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31 Jul 12 - 05:49 PM (#3384278) Subject: RE: Obit: Mrrzy's Mom, atheist & Holocaust survivr From: Jeri My condolences, Mrrzy. What a remarkable life, though. Hope your family can get together and tells her stories. |
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31 Jul 12 - 05:50 PM (#3384280) Subject: RE: Obit: Mrrzy's Mom, atheist & Holocaust survivr From: GUEST,999 My sincere condolences, Mrzzy. |
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31 Jul 12 - 05:57 PM (#3384286) Subject: RE: Obit: Mrrzy's Mom, atheist & Holocaust survivr From: GUEST,saulgoldie Condolences, MRZZY. Saul |
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31 Jul 12 - 05:59 PM (#3384287) Subject: RE: Obit: Mrrzy's Mom, atheist & Holocaust survivr From: Ebbie Being present as history is made is small comfort- What is remarkable is her long life beyond. Congratulations to her, and to those she leaves behind, my condolences. |
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31 Jul 12 - 06:00 PM (#3384290) Subject: RE: Obit: Mrrzy's Mom, atheist & Holocaust survivr From: SINSULL RIP |
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31 Jul 12 - 06:11 PM (#3384297) Subject: RE: Obit: Mrrzy's Mom, atheist & Holocaust survivr From: JennieG My condolences, Mrrzy. |
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31 Jul 12 - 06:15 PM (#3384298) Subject: RE: Obit: Mrrzy's Mom, atheist & Holocaust survivr From: GUEST,amergin I'm sorry, my dear friend. She sounds like quite the amazing woman. You were lucky to have her. |
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31 Jul 12 - 07:44 PM (#3384330) Subject: RE: Obit: Mrrzy's Mom, atheist & Holocaust survivr From: Janie What Ebbie said, Mrrzy. {{{{{{{{hug}}}}}}}}}. |
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31 Jul 12 - 08:03 PM (#3384343) Subject: RE: Obit: Mrrzy's Mom, atheist & Holocaust survivr From: catspaw49 A grand life and a hard life and it had its full share of tragedy and love. We love you Mrrz......always have. Pass on the memories and the life she lived to those who don't know.......that's real immortality. Spwa |
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31 Jul 12 - 08:16 PM (#3384346) Subject: RE: Obit: Mrrzy's Mom, atheist & Holocaust survivr From: gnu My sincere condolences, Mrzzy. Thanks for sharing. |
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31 Jul 12 - 08:31 PM (#3384356) Subject: RE: Obit: Mrrzy's Mom, atheist & Holocaust survivr From: Bobert I am so sorry, Mrrzy.... Thank you for sharing her past... It does make it so much easier to connect with someone's spirit... B~ |
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31 Jul 12 - 10:03 PM (#3384398) Subject: RE: Obit: Mrrzy's Mom, atheist & Holocaust survivr From: Amos I'm sorry for your loss, Mrrz--it is one you never quite recover from; but it is worth celebrating that she survived so well and against such horrible odds, and acheived a self-defined, dignified life to die from, if you see what I mean. She sounds like a very tough lady!! Hugs, A |
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31 Jul 12 - 10:08 PM (#3384402) Subject: RE: Obit: Mrrzy's Mom, atheist & Holocaust survivr From: GUEST,MTed I am sorry, too, Mrrzy. Your Mom was a survivor, and, although we did not know her personally, knowing about her, and the suffering that she survived, gives us all hope. |
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01 Aug 12 - 12:06 AM (#3384441) Subject: RE: Obit: Mrrzy's Mom, atheist & Holocaust survivr From: Neil D So very sorry for your loss. |
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01 Aug 12 - 12:34 AM (#3384450) Subject: RE: Obit: Mrrzy's Mom, atheist & Holocaust survivr From: Bert Love and condolences. |
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01 Aug 12 - 12:42 AM (#3384452) Subject: RE: Obit: Mrrzy's Mom, atheist & Holocaust survivr From: KT I'm sorry for your loss, Mrrzy. Sounds like she lived an extraordinary life. |
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01 Aug 12 - 02:13 AM (#3384465) Subject: RE: Obit: Mrrzy's Mom, atheist & Holocaust survivr From: Monique Mes sincères condoléances, Mrrzy, je pense bien à toi. |
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01 Aug 12 - 03:16 AM (#3384472) Subject: RE: Obit: Mrrzy's Mom, atheist & Holocaust survivr From: fat B****rd My very best regards and condolences. Charlie |
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01 Aug 12 - 04:01 AM (#3384482) Subject: RE: Obit: Mrrzy's Mom, atheist & Holocaust survivr From: Sandra in Sydney sorry for the loss of a remarkable woman, & for the grief of her survivors sandra |
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01 Aug 12 - 11:42 AM (#3384641) Subject: RE: Obit: Mrrzy's Mom, atheist & Holocaust survivr From: YorkshireYankee My sincere sympathies to you and your family. Even when you're "expecting it", losing someone you love is no easy thing. Your Mom sounds amazing -- and it's inspiring to think of how much she's accomplished after the ordeal(s) she managed to survive. Sounds to me as though her spirit will live on... |
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01 Aug 12 - 03:47 PM (#3384781) Subject: RE: Obit: Mrrzy's Mom, atheist & Holocaust survivr From: Mrrzy Thank you all. Some tidbits: She pronounced both V and W as W. Thus interesting words, like wowel (not a consonant), wiper (snake) and so on. When asked where her accent came from, she said it came from trying to speek eenglish. Her control of idioms was very like Ricky Ricardo's - for "as easy as shooting fish in a barrel" she once came up with "as easy as shooting a duck in the chest." ... |
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01 Aug 12 - 05:51 PM (#3384826) Subject: RE: Obit: Mrrzy's Mom, atheist & Holocaust survivr From: frogprince Sounds like a fine woman, who survived a lot that no one should have to see any of. Condolences to you and the family. Dean |
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02 Aug 12 - 12:39 AM (#3384926) Subject: RE: Obit: Mrrzy's Mom, atheist & Holocaust survivr From: Ebbie "...as easy as shooting a duck in the chest" lol I love it. On the other hand I know a certain Mudcatter who is known to have said "he's got too many tools in the furnace." :) |
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02 Aug 12 - 01:17 AM (#3384934) Subject: RE: Obit: Mrrzy's Mom, atheist & Holocaust survivr From: Joe Offer I'm sorry she's gone, Mrr. From what you've said of her, I gather she must have been a remarkable woman. May she rest in peace. -Joe- |
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02 Aug 12 - 04:52 PM (#3385275) Subject: RE: Obit: Mrrzy's Mom, atheist & Holocaust survivr From: GUEST,pete from seven stars link empathy unites even across philosophical divides.wishing you well,mrrzy. pete. |
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02 Aug 12 - 07:30 PM (#3385350) Subject: RE: Obit: Mrrzy's Mom, atheist & Holocaust survivr From: Allan C. I am and was happy to have met your mom though we didn't talk beyond initial greetings. You explained then that she didn't like speaking in English very much, but from what you have written so far I do wish I had been able to converse with her. I'm sure she had a lot to say to the right ears. I'm sorry for your loss and that of your boys. |
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02 Aug 12 - 09:10 PM (#3385387) Subject: RE: Obit: Mrrzy's Mom, atheist & Holocaust survivr From: Charley Noble Some day it would be nice to meet you. We share a whole lot of the international experience. Will you be at the Getaway in late September? Judy and I plan to be there. Charley Noble |
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02 Aug 12 - 09:14 PM (#3385394) Subject: RE: Obit: Mrrzy's Mom, atheist & Holocaust survivr From: Sandy Mc Lean My deepest sympathy Mrzzy! It sounds like she was an amazing person! May she rest in peace! |
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02 Aug 12 - 10:33 PM (#3385419) Subject: RE: Obit: Mrrzy's Mom, atheist & Holocaust survivr From: ChanteyLass I am glad that she survived Auschwitz. I am sorry for your family's loss. I hope you have many good memories. Sending love and virtual hugs. |
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02 Aug 12 - 11:08 PM (#3385422) Subject: RE: Obit: Mrrzy's Mom, atheist & Holocaust survivr From: Beer All of the above Mrzzy. I can't add anything except to say that your Mum was a remarkable lady. Adrien |
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03 Aug 12 - 03:44 PM (#3385724) Subject: RE: Obit: Mrrzy's Mom, atheist & Holocaust survivr From: Mrrzy Thank you all. I keep thinking about her being dead, I'm looking forward to just being able to think about her... 2 of my sisters say they feel jetlagged. The rest of us don't travel enough. |
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03 Aug 12 - 03:47 PM (#3385726) Subject: RE: Obit: Mrrzy's Mom, atheist & Holocaust survivr From: olddude very sorry to hear this news Mrrzy anything I can do just drop me a note |
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04 Aug 12 - 12:45 PM (#3386064) Subject: RE: Obit: Mrrzy's Mom, atheist & Holocaust survivr From: Mrrzy Starting to get sad. I think. Yesterday went for drinks with friends and had a hard time with other people having fun, and new babies, etc. |
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04 Aug 12 - 12:57 PM (#3386076) Subject: RE: Obit: Mrrzy's Mom, atheist & Holocaust survivr From: Charley Noble I still have conversations with my father, though he's been dead 10 years. I just enjoy thinking about him now and again. It was more difficult to do that for several weeks after he died but I now find it more a comfort than upsetting. My mother still walks this earth at age 94 and I don't know how much longer she will last but at least she is still painting canvases and is mentally alert. I certainly will miss her too when she is gone but her presence will also continue. I wouldn't want it any other way. Charley Noble |
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04 Aug 12 - 04:38 PM (#3386165) Subject: RE: Obit: Mrrzy's Mom, atheist & Holocaust survivr From: Ebbie My older sister was 72 years old when our dad died, 8 years after Mom's passing. Sis said that her first thought was, Now I'm an orphan. Her feeling, I think, was akin to my reaction when my younger brother died. It was that the one person who had memories of me from my early childhood was gone. I suspect that that loss of continuity in our lives is one we share. Another response to our losses, I think, is the perpetual wish to get information from them. Mom's been gone 25 years, Dad for 17 and there are still things I would like to ask or tell them. I expect that will continue. |
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04 Aug 12 - 05:28 PM (#3386176) Subject: RE: Obit: Mrrzy's Mom, atheist & Holocaust survivr From: maeve Thinking of you, Mrrzy. It took me a long time to think of my late father without sorrow; I still miss him terribly, but I can also now rejoice at having shared so much of my life with him. He is part of me. |
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07 Aug 12 - 06:40 PM (#3387351) Subject: RE: Obit: Mrrzy's Mom, atheist & Holocaust survivr From: Mrrzy Obit in tomorrow's Washington Post. Search for "Fenjves." |
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08 Aug 12 - 02:37 AM (#3387416) Subject: RE: Obit: Mrrzy's Mom, atheist & Holocaust survivr From: Amergin Although, this is something you can never really "get over", losing some one you care about never is, be free to mourn, to weep over her. Also, tell her stories to people, to your boys, to your friends, to your nieces and nephews, to anyone who will listen. It helps keep a part alive in you. Do something creative in her honour, write, paint, play music, sing, something for her...this last has really helped me on numerous occasions, as it helped me work through my own writhing feelings. Maybe just write her a letter every once in a while...tell her what's going on...and so on, even though she will never read it. The result is to help you through the grieving process. Take it easy, my friend. |
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08 Aug 12 - 08:31 AM (#3387561) Subject: RE: Obit: Mrrzy's Mom, atheist & Holocaust survivr From: maeve Your mother had a beautiful smile, Mrrzy, and what a fine obituary in her honor! http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/washingtonpost/obituary.aspx?n=estera-f-votaw&pid=159023150#fbLoggedOut Thank you for letting us learn something of her life, fully lived and appreciated, and of her love for the people and art of the world. One would do well to follow her example; relishing every moment of life. |
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08 Aug 12 - 11:46 AM (#3387635) Subject: RE: Obit: Mrrzy's Mom, atheist & Holocaust survivr From: Mrrzy Thank you for posting it! |
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08 Aug 12 - 04:55 PM (#3387755) Subject: RE: Obit: Mrrzy's Mom, atheist & Holocaust survivr From: ChanteyLass I have expressed my condolences earlier in this thread. I knew from your original post that she had an amazing life. The obituary told us more about that and made me curious: how many languages did she speak? |
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08 Aug 12 - 05:16 PM (#3387764) Subject: RE: Obit: Mrrzy's Mom, atheist & Holocaust survivr From: GUEST,Mrr 5, all pretty fluently. She oddly enough never lost the languages she didn't use, like German and Serbian, but she used English, French and Hungarian on an everyday basis. |
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08 Aug 12 - 05:58 PM (#3387772) Subject: RE: Obit: Mrrzy's Mom, atheist & Holocaust survivr From: Bill D Just read her obit.... amazing woman! I will go visit the museum when her collection is included. Quite a family all around... *smile* |
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09 Aug 12 - 01:01 PM (#3388025) Subject: RE: Obit: Mrrzy's Mom, atheist & Holocaust survivr From: Charley Noble An amazing woman who surely will be long remembered. Charley Noble |
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09 Aug 12 - 10:55 PM (#3388201) Subject: RE: Obit: Mrrzy's Mom, atheist & Holocaust survivr From: ChanteyLass Thank you for taking the time to answer my question, Mrrzy. |
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11 Aug 12 - 09:51 PM (#3388965) Subject: RE: Obit: Mrrzy's Mom, atheist & Holocaust survivr From: Mrrzy Memorial service October 6th at the Quaker meeting house at the corner of Florida ave nw and Decatur, Washington DC. Everybody welcome. |
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17 Aug 12 - 01:21 AM (#3391229) Subject: RE: Obit: Mrrzy's Mom, atheist & Holocaust survivr From: Mrrzy Also, 2 more obits... http://www.jewish-heritage-europe.eu/2012/08/09/the-death-of-eszti-votaw/%E2%80%9D http://www.gradsubotica.co.rs/in-memoriam-estera-fenjves-votav/ (this one is in Croatian which she would have hated, hah hah) |
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17 Aug 12 - 05:52 AM (#3391290) Subject: RE: Obit: Mrrzy's Mom, atheist & Holocaust survivr From: maeve Mrrzy's links: http://www.jewish-heritage-europe.eu/2012/08/09/the-death-of-eszti-votaw/%E2%80%9D http://www.gradsubotica.co.rs/in-memoriam-estera-fenjves-votav/ "This one is in Croatian..." |
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17 Aug 12 - 06:34 PM (#3391539) Subject: RE: Obit: Mrrzy's Mom, atheist & Holocaust survivr From: ChanteyLass Mrrzy, it was interesting to read more about your family going back another generation. Thank you for the clickies, Maeve. |
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17 Aug 12 - 09:39 PM (#3391615) Subject: RE: Obit: Mrrzy's Mom, atheist & Holocaust survivr From: GUEST,Dani So sorry for your loss, dear. Funny thing: I don't check in here much, but this is the first thread I saw when I dropped in. Had just come from our local pub, where we were celebrating the launching of my baby to college tomorrow, but remembering sitting at the same table at the wake we held for my mother there, among friends and relations. How nice for you that you have these marvelous stories and memories for you to share with your children, and theirs. May the warm memories heal the heart. Dani |
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01 Oct 12 - 03:13 PM (#3412650) Subject: RE: Obit: Mrrzy's Mom, atheist & Holocaust survivr From: Mrrzy Great stories will be told Saturday if anybody can attend the memorial service. Reminder - one obit, and the others are two comments up. Thank you all for your thoughts. |