Saturday, November 17, 2012
Liebe Tante Leni, Dear Magdalene,
Where ever you are right now, I know you can hear this.
Let me say ‘Thank you’ for the very last time for the lovely memories you created for me throughout my childhood and youth.
Your hospitality and warm welcome during the various visits at your home in Dix Hills was outstanding.
I saw the many letters and parcels sent between you and my mother Marianne throughout the decades! Nothing was too much.
I witnessed the life long friendship between you two Langmandel cousins. You were both of same age and had lost your own mothers very early in your lives, only to be drawn into the unimaginable hardship of the Second World War. Despite being exhausted by air raids, hiding in bomb shelters, and the city of Nuremberg being in ruins, mother never lost contact with her best friend, you, Leni. I guess the two of you just ‘clicked’, which is so nice to see when it happens between relatives. You were her bridesmaid and hosted her wedding party with so little means then.
Mother missed you when you got married far away across the Atlantic in the 1950s. Yet, no ocean was too deep to keep you both apart – that’s when the letter writing started.
You had overcome war time in Germany with all its ramifications to establish yourself in your new country, in America. You successfully raised your family, learned a new language, and became a tax accountant. You were a true model migrant citizen. Mother spoke with great admiration of all your achievements.
In my mind you were always part of my life. An era has now come to an end and again, I thank you, Tante Leni, but not least Onkel Harry, Susie, Bernie and their families for the precious memories you all helped creating.
Tante Leni, I briefly spoke with my mother on the phone, she cried and said “der Kreis ist jetzt geschlossen” - ‘the circle has now been closed’.
It was a privilege to witness this special friendship you both had, and I know, wherever you are, Tante Leni, you will be there for each other once again. It truly was good to see that you could unlock something in my mother no one else could.
To Onkel Harry, Susie, Bernie, Caitlin, Will, Ross and families, my deepest sympathy is with you. Please accept my condolences, as well as, and especially on behalf of my mother, Marianne.
Love, Monika
