Berczyńska Kazimiera (Jankowska); Son: Berczyński Wacław ; Daughter-In-Law: Zofia (Goltz)

Berczyńska, Kazimiera Berczyński, Wacław Berczyńska, Zofia After the death of her husband and the rest of her family prior to the final liquidation of the Częstochowa ghetto, Roma Frydman succeeded in placing her six-year-old daughter, Ilona, in the care of Kazimiera Berczyńska, an elderly Polish teacher, who lived together with her son, Wacław, and his wife, Zofia. Little Ilona, whose name appeared as Irena on her false identity card, was passed off by Kazimiera as her granddaughter. She was treated with warmth and kindness by all the members of the Berczyński family. One day, an unknown Pole remarked that Ilona was Jewish. Fearing that her small charge would be denounced, Kazimiera fled with her to the local cemetery, where they hid for two days. Immediately thereafter, the Berczyńskis left Częstochowa for Opoczno, in the Kielce district, far from the danger that threatened them in their hometown. Roma Frydman was liberated in January 1945. She obtained Kazimiera’s address, and the latter cheerfully returned her daughter to her safe and sound. The Berczyńskis were motivated by purely humanitarian considerations and received no recompense for their actions. After the war, Roma and Ilona emigrated to the United States. They continued to maintain contact with Kazimiera’s son and daughter-in-law for many years afterward. On March 19, 1986, Yad Vashem recognized Kazimiera Berczyńska, her son, Wacław, and his wife, Zofia, as Righteous Among the Nations. File 3366