Stefaniv Dominika ; Daughter: Miroslava ; Daughter: Petrenko Oksana (Stefaniv)

Stefaniv, Dominika Stefaniv, Miroslava Petrenko (Stefaniv), Oksana Dominika Stefaniv, a teacher, and her daughters, Miroslava and Oksana, lived in the town of Kołomyja in the district of Stanisławów (today Kolomyya, Ivano-Frankivs’k District). From the early 1930s, they rented and apartment from the Erger family, who over time became good friends of the Stefanivs. On July 4, 1941, the Germans conquered Kołomyja. In 1942, when the Ergers’ home fell within the walls of the ghetto that was established, the Stefanivs found new lodging in another area of the town. Before they moved there, the Stefanivs told the Ergers that they would always be able to find shelter in their home should it become necessary. On November 5, 1942, 19-year-old Shulamit Erger arrived at the Stefanivs’ home. When Dominika Stefaniv opened the door, Erger fell at her feet, losing consciousness. Stefaniv called a Jewish doctor who determined that Erger had contracted typhus and for the next several weeks Stefaniv and her daughters nursed her back to health. A short while later, Erger discovered that the Stefanivs were also hiding Tsilya Leibovich in their home and until the liberation of Kołomyja on March 28, 1944, Leibovich and Erger remained in the Stefanivs’ home and were treated like family members. During this entire period, the two Jews never went outside and the Stefanivs abstained from inviting guests over, including relatives. After the liberation, Leibovich and Erger left Kołomyja and they both eventually settled in Israel. They lost contact with the Stefanivs for many years but it was renewed in 1991, and that year Erger hosted Oksana and Miroslava in her home in Israel. On October 23, 1991, Yad Vashem recognized Dominika Stefaniv and her daughters, Miroslava Stefaniv and Oksana Petrenko, as Righteous Among the Nations.