Number 61: Marcelle a’ Cohen Treves was born in Holland, arrived in South Africa at two years old but always continued to speak Dutch with her parents. She grew up in Wynberg, Cape Town and once married moved to Paarl and then when I was two year’s old, to Port Elizabeth in 1959.

I came upon some letters my mother wrote me when at University: She was enclosing some extra pocket money; did we have arrangements for 1^st and 2^nd night Rosh Hashana? Can we please include my younger brother David in the arrangements because he had just arrived in Cape Town? Innocuous, routine letters – but a reflection of her sustained concern for us over the years.

She always prepared wonderful meals, especially on Shabbat. Conversations during mealtimes were fascinating. My father propounding views related to the political and social context and my mother always focusing on family and personal concerns: Our health? What we did during the day? How the people are that we spent time with? When guests came over my father would assert himself in a debate or argument and didn’t mind raising the tension in the room. My mother wanted “Shlom Bayit”: A peaceful home and good relationships.

Family was extremely important to her – perhaps more so as she received the calls from Holland with messages of family members having perished in the Shoah. As a result she always had a small family and no close family in South Africa outside of her nuclear family.

When we went through difficult financial times, my mother’s fortitude, resilience and strength anchored the family.

She had a most beautiful singing voice which always gave me such a warm feeling of support, warmth and wellbeing. Yair sings my mother and grandmother’s Dutch song “slaap kleintjie slaap” to his daughters. Continuity through the generations…..

When she passed away so many messages reflecting her abundant, beautiful qualities: love of family; her energy; engagement with friends and community; wonderfully warm; kind; caring; solid; strong; generous; positive; cheerful and sense of fun; someone you want on your team.

May her memory be for a blessing