Seligman Swartzman Gillis Sandman Joffe Yachad Lederman Fleishman

I just prepared my mother Bertha Dorzorseva Seligmans Yartseit candle for Her Memorial of 54 years - may 31 1969. In doing so many memories came To the fore - memories of my loving, scarred mumma whose father was murdered in what was then Katerina Slav Russia but today is Dnipro Ukraine. She never spoke much of the tragedy since it happened when she was 5 years old. However little bits and pieces would emerge from time to Time and unfortunately life was not idyllic. Shortly after the death of her Father, my grandfather Mordechai who I am named after,her mother, my Wonderful Bubbie Chana and her went to Montreal where Chana had Family. Partly a blessing but a very difficult life for both Bertha and Chana. Because of my closeness and deep love for Bubbie Chana this Post or rather Memory is also for her. her. From my earliest recollection I can still feel Bubbie’s goodness and love. Her pure silver hair tied in a bun was truly like expensive silverware.I would Visit every week and since Bubbie had swollen legs from her duties at Home ,on the weekend she would rest in bed with me cuddled up beside Her. Of course her cat would sprawl out at the foot of the bed and rest too. So, what I would do is is undo the coil in the back of her head and comb it Out until it reached the middle of her back. It truly felt like spun silver and I would like to think that this was the pleasure of her week. She did not Speak English but rather Yiddish and Russian. A woman of beauty who Grew old before her time - she died in November 1946 at age 55-56. I was heartbroken and cried for weeks whenever I thought of my Bubbie Or when her name was mentioned.I was 13 but to me it was like yesterday Here is where our family becomes a little (a lot) confusing. In 1918 my father’s mother Freda died in childbirth along with her 6th baby. A surrogate mother had to be found to look after the 5 children, The youngest Barely 2 years old Motherless - this in Lachine, Quebec a small town outside Montreal was where my Zaida & his wife Freda lived. He had a Bakery with a cousin called Imperial Rye. Bakery and his clientele besides the people of Lachine were The Mohawk Nation of Cauganawaga now known as Kanasaki across the river from Lachine. Well, it didn’t take long for Chaim to find a Bride within a year and that was My sweet Bubbie Chana who had been working in a sweat factory to Support herself and young daughter,. This match seemed perfect and in 1919 a year after my Bubbie Freda passed they married. But Lachine would Now be her home. Her daughter Bertha was crestfallen because living in Montreal, even though not in “elegant”style,” she was brilliant at school (Bancroft). The adjustment was difficult both for her and my Bubbie. For my mother Bertha now living with a completely unfamiliar family - 4 Young boys 13 and under and a little girl of perhaps 5 there was no room For her to study - helping her mother Chana was the rule of the day. Harry, the eldest son of Chaim who was about 13 and just lost his mother Freda was the assistant Helper and also the protector of his now Step Sister Bertha. By 1920 my Bubbie gave birth to my Uncle Abraham nicknamed “Memel” Because his Hebrew name was Avremel. Another baby, another responsibility for the Seligman househo. Then in 1921 my uncle Jakie was born. It was too much for both Bubbie and her daughter Bertha so Bertha Was allowed to move back to. Montreal to live with one of Chana’s sisters and. her large family and be able to attend school again. Not a great choice but no other one was available. In 1922 Chana was pregnant again and begged to go back to Montreal with the This did not stop Montreal with the entire family. Chaimfinally relented and they did move To McGuire Street near “the Baths”Where my Auntie Sarah (Sally) was born.o”.. However Bertha remained with her Aunt and endured a miserable life. When she received a Scholarship to Continue into Highshool her aunt refused to let her go and instead made Her work at age 14 in their Shop.This did not stop Bertha from self educating herself through books and general knowledge. I But at times life has a strange way of fixing the wrongs. Harry (Getzel) Chaim’s eldest son still looked out for Bertha who was to become my Beautiful kind mother and Harry to become my kind loving handsome Father. Although I started this story (Post) in memory of my mother it had to Turn out with a partly happy ending for two people who lost a parent When they were so young and though life was difficult it had some tender Sweet moments. My brother and I though sad at how our parents young Years were woven are thankful for the parents we had and the love they Tendered us. Also, in retrospect and in our twighlight years we have a Multitude of family (our Aunts & Uncles are gone but we have a large Group of family - cousins - from both mumma’s side & Daddy’s side With whom we have a genuine relationship and no animosity for how The thought process of yesterday was skewed in many ways but the Offsprings are not responsible for the ills of their family members. So, as I will light my mother’s Yartseit candle on Sunday I will also Remember my Silver Haired Bubby Chana, my Zaida Mordecai, my Bubby Freda and my Zaida Chaim. May they all Rest In Peace and May their memories be a Blessing. Love you until Eternity. Amen! Facebook, 14/6/2022, Miriam Seligman-Charron