Sunday, 4 May, 2008 22:59    |   Contact

Elfrieda Kofler

In 1939 the Red Cross took many children from Austria - I was one of those kids.

My name was Elfrieda Kofler (now Frieda Coronel) and I lived in Vienna.

My mother heard of the Red Cross helping children aged from 5 years old leave Austria. I was 6 years old and my sister, Ruthi, was 3. My mother decided to get the Red Cross to help me. I was taken to the station with a little label pinned to my coat. I remember there were a lot of children there and I was crying. I did not want to leave my mother but she told me that she would see me soon - sadly, that never happened as I lost all my family in Riga.

First I was taken to Belgium, then Amsterdam, and lastly to England, were I was taken to Wigan, a coal mining town. We were rounded up in a social hall ran by the sisters of the Wigan Parish Church. The sisters went around to families to ask them to take a child for around two weeks until the Jewish Refugee Committee could find a permanent home for us. Many people came and all the cutest little children were taken first. Finally a lady came over to me. I remember crying and sitting in a corner. She took my hand and I went to live with her. I ended up staying 11 years.

I spoke only German initially so it was a difficult beginning for me. It was not easy for them either as there were no Jewish people living in Wigan - London and Manchester, yes. I wanted to belong so I changed my religion to Anglican, was confirmed and baptised.

In 1946, an aunt whom I had never met found me through the Jewish Refugee Committee and wanted me to join her in America. I did not want to leave my foster mother but I was under age and had no choice. It took 5 years for her to get a visa for me to enter into the States - by then I was 18 years old.

My aunt never had any children of her own and did not know how to deal with me. Remember I was brought up as a Christian and did not know much about the Jewish ways. Sadly, we did dot get on too well.

After five months I met a man I fell in love with. He was not Jewish and my aunt did not like him. She said I had never to see this man again and, if I did, she wanted me to leave her house - I left. The man was around 35 years old and never intended to marry me. He left me and I was devastated, having no friends or family.

To cut a long story short, I met a man while looking for a job on the subway in New York City - we married to in 1952 and had four children. After 19 years together we got divorced.

In 1971 I remarried and have been married 32 years. We never had any children together. We have now lived in Las Vegas, Nevada for five years and I am retired.