The Holocaust was one of the most difficult times in history. No one knew how horrific these years would be. It only takes one person to impact many lives. Irene Gut Opdyke was a courageous woman who was willing to stand up against hate, therefore many lives were saved. Irene was not a bystander, she saw the events that were happening and did something about it. Irene knew that she could not impact the whole world but she knew she could save many.
Irene was born on May 5, 1922. She was born and raised in a little town in Poland called Kozienice. She loved living in a small town because she knew most of the people around her. Animals were a huge part in Irene’s life. They had a dog named Myszka which means “mouse.” Later on they had another dog …show more content…
Janina loved her mother and still goes to see her memorial and her tree regularly. She speaks at many places around the country. She speaks to schools, youth groups, etc. There is a website called www.Ireneopdyke.com that was written by Janina and has videos about the play that is on broadway, and many others.
The picture above is Irene just before she died in 2003. Before she died she lived in California as an interior decorator. She traveled the majority of the time she lived in California teaching young people and old, about the Holocaust. She said she traveled so much that she was only home about five days each month.
Irene Gut Opdyke will be remembered throughout history. She had the courage to stand up against hate and against her religion and make a difference. She said in 1975 she heard a neo-Nazi say that the holocaust never happened. She could not believe what she heard so she had to say something.
Her husband died in 1993 for unknown reasons. Her family lives in Woodland, Washington and has two grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
This is Irene with the Curator of Yad Vashem. His name is Dr. Mordechai Palediel. They are standing on the Grounds of the memorial in