Jansen Kee (Leijster)

Jansen, Kee (Leijster) Eva Sanders (later Viktor), a nurse, and her sister, Judith, who were from Enschede, arrived at Kee Jansen-Leijster’s home in June 1943. Kee had been widowed at the age of 33 and was the mother of four children, the youngest of whom, Henk, had been born after his father’s death. Kee supported her family with her small grocery store in the village of Nijverdal, Overijssel. When Eva and Judith arrived at Kee’s, there was already a Jewish boy staying there and a special hiding place was ready for them. They never left the house during the 20 months they spent there. They paid the modest sum of 70 florins a month towards their upkeep and Kee cooked food for them that she got from her grocery store. Eighty-six Jews passed through Kee’s home during the war. Non-Jews who were fleeing from persecution also enjoyed her hospitality, among them a Norwegian pilot and a Catholic priest. Kee’s motives were both religious and humantarian. She had a strong sense of justice and her religious faith gave her courage during difficult times. All those who were rescued from certain death thanks to the courageous actions of Tante Kee called her the “Mother of the Resistance.” Eva Sanders remained firm friends with Kee after leaving her house. On October 6, 1970, Yad Vashem recognized Kee Jansen-Leijster as Righteous Among the Nations.