This summer, a story of resilience, family, and unexpected reunion came to life.
A 1928 immigration journey sparked by a courageous 22-year-old, Klara, brought the family to Canada, her 9-month-old son in tow, with hopes of reuniting with her husband. Tragically, she never saw her family again, learning only after WWII that they had perished in the Holocaust. This story, buried in a photo and family memories, led Klara’s great-granddaughter, Hinda Koza-Culp, of Barrie, on a quest to reconnect with a history, long hidden.
A family photograph and a letter from 1923, discovered on the back of a frame, ignited the journey. The letter, from Klara’s father, written in Yiddish, read: "To my dear daughter, for eternal memory of your family." It touched a deep place in Hinda's heart. She turned to genealogical research, using online resources, translations, and even Reddit, to piece together Klara’s (seen sitting at bottom right of photo) history.
But the story held more.
In a remarkable turn, records from Israel's Holocaust Memorial Yad Vashem, in conjunction with genealogical searches, uncovered Klara's surviving family. Klara’s sister Celia had survived WWII, evacuating to the Russian interior with her husband. Through further efforts, Hinda made contact with Celia’s son, Yosef, who now lives in Israel. What followed was an emotional phone call, and soon, the family arranged a long-overdue reunion in Canada.
In early September, after decades of separation and silence, the families met, exchanged stories, and reestablished bonds. “It was like family from the minute we met them,” Hinda says.
With new photos of Klara’s family, the legacy lives on through stories, shared traditions, and treasured letters. The family plans to keep these connections strong, honouring the memory of those lost, and celebrating a reunion no one could have foreseen, bringing closure and joy across generations.
For more on this story, listen to our interview (below) with Hinda Koza-Culp
