Izabella Friedmann

Born: April 4, 1927, Gyula, Hungary

Izabella Friedmann's father was a popular family doctor who lived with his wife, Júlia, and their two daughters Vera and Izabella in a beautiful downtown house in Gyula. Their home also included a doctor’s surgery room. Izabella, or Belluska as she was called, was seven years younger than her sister, Vera. Their mother was an extremely intelligent, educated, and cheerful woman, who loved her family, organizing large family lunches on Saturdays attended by aunts, uncles and cousins. The girls loved these events because they were able spend the afternoons playing with their friends. All off these happy times formed unforgettable memories for the family.

Belluska started elementary school at a private school in Gyula and then went on to the public civilian girls’ school. She was an excellent student in both institutions so in January 1942 after passing a special exam, she continued her studies at the best school of the region, the Public Lorántffy Zsuzsanna Girls’ High School in Békéscsaba. Her sister had attended the same school before her. On a daily basis she commuted to Békéscsaba from Gyula by taking the train and was a straight A student. In 1944 Belluska was in grade seven when she received the end of term school report early on April 1 – three days before her 17th birthday. Her sister was already living in Budapest,  and their father had been called up for forced labor service. The Jewish community of Gyula was deported to Auschwitz at the end of June 1944. Belluska and her mother, Júlia were killed there. Their dear memory has been preserved by the members of the family and through some old photos, a school report and the memorial monument in the Jewish cemetery in Gyula.