Fanny Joseph
Holocaust escapee Fanny Joseph died on August 28, 2022, at the age of 98. A service was held August 31 at Mount Nebo Memorial Park, officiated by Rabbi Rachel Kobrin. Feldman Mortuary made the arrangements.
Mrs. Joseph, born on Feb. 2, 1924 in Bilky, Czechoslovakia (now Ukraine), fled her homeland in 1936; she and her brother David Hirsch emigrated to Antwerp, Belgium, where their oldest sister Toby lived. Fanny was 12 years old at the time; David was 17. They would never see their mother again.
The safety in Belgium was short-lived. Mrs. Joseph left by herself for Switzerland, where she received anti-Jewish threats and was told to leave for France.
“She stood her ground, and told them she would rather be shot by Swiss guards than be sent to the Nazis,” her family said.
Mrs. Joseph was sent to a refugee camp, where she worked until the end of the war. Her parents and seven siblings were all killed in Auschwitz and in southwestern Ukraine, leaving Fanny as the sole remaining family survivor in Europe.
After the war, Mrs. Joseph returned to Bilky in 1945 and married Sol Joseph. Mr. Joseph was killed in August, 1989 while he and Mrs. Joseph were out for a walk in Bronx, New York.
In 1994 Mrs. Joseph married Morris Gedalof; they lived in Montreal until Mrs. Joseph moved to Denver in 2011. Mr. Gedalof passed away in 2015.
“Like most immigrants, she worked hard to ensure her family had all they needed, and she paved the way so that her children and grandchildren had a better life,” Mrs. Joseph’s family said.
“She worked as a clerk at a department store all of her adult life. She was happiest just taking care of those she loved, and cooking and feeding them as often as possible.
“She was not only a Holocaust survivor, she survived many adversities in her life. Yet, she had the strength, intelligence and will to persevere because she treasured life.”
Survivors are son Seymour (Violet) Joseph; grandchildren David (Tracy) Joseph, Aaron Joseph, and Rebecca (Fletcher Woolsey) Joseph; and two great-grandchildren. Mrs. Joseph was preceded in death by husbands Sol Joseph and Morris Gedalof, and daughter Helene Joseph.
Contributions can be made to Rodef Shalom Preschool.
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