Kochuk Yuri & Praskovia

Kochuk, Yuriy Kochuk, Praskovya Yuriy and Praskovya (Paraska) Kochuk were residents of the town of Żabie, in the district of Stanisławów (today Verkhovyna, Ivano-Frankivs’k District). In July 1941, the Germans conquered the area and in December of that year they carried out an Aktion there. Most of the Jews of Żabie were murdered and their property plundered but Kochuk managed to hide Eliezer and Zelda Gertner and their four children in his home. The Gertners were a wealthy family and before the war they owned a restaurant and a hotel. Paraska, who worked as their domestic help, had been treated well by them over a period of many years and she was happy to assist them in their time of need. During the two days of the Aktion the Gertners stayed with the Kochuks, and afterward they returned to their own home. A few months later, the Gertners left Żabie and moved to the Kosów ghetto and then the Kołomyja ghetto. Over the course of the German occupation, four of the six Gertner family members perished, with only the sons Danek (David) and Meir surviving, after fleeing to Hungary and securing false identity papers in Polish names. After the war, Danek settled in Austria and despite his great efforts he was not successful in locating the Kochuks, who had risked their lives to help save his family. On September 16, 1999, Yad Vashem recognized Yuriy and Praskovya (Paraska) Kochuk as Righteous Among the Nations.