Helena and Barbara Stefaniak, sisters separated during World War II when the Nazis invaded their Polish neighborhood, were sent to forced labor camps in different countries, fearing they might never reunite. Three years later, they were liberated and reunited in Germany, eventually immigrating to the United States with their husbands and settling on the East Coast. Despite their years apart, they rekindled their bond through visits between their homes in New Jersey and Connecticut while raising families together. In 2017, Helena’s declining health led her to move to Montana to live with her daughter, making their time together more limited. Now 96 and 100, Helena and Barbara recently shared a final reunion made possible by Wish of a Lifetime, a nonprofit that helps elderly adults fulfill their dreams. While they acknowledge this may be their last meeting due to their age and health, the sisters are not sad to be at the end of their lives. Instead, they take pride in what they have endured, the love they preserved, and the legacy they leave for their families. Their story is a testament to the resilience of familial bonds and the enduring power of love in the face of unimaginable adversity.
Image via People
Read other stories from the 12/16/24 newsletter:
コメント