Grada Wesselina Colenbrander

Geslacht: Vrouw
Vader: Gerrit Colenbrander
Moeder: Aleida Johanna Westerveld
Geboren: 11 OKT 1918 Wisch
Overleden: 30 Dec 1997 Doetinchem
Religie: Geref.
Aantekeningen: Last Name: Colenbrander
First Name: Grada Wesselina
Maiden Name: Colenbrander
Date of Birth: 11/10/1918
Date of death: 30/12/1997
Rescuer's fate: survived
Nationality: THE NETHERLANDS
Gender: Female
Profession: FARMERS WIFE
Place during the war: Sinderen, Gelderland, The Netherlands
Rescue Place: Sinderen, Gelderland, The Netherlands
Rescue mode: Hiding
File number: File from the Collection of the Righteous Among the Nations Department (M.31.2/6086)
It 1943, Loesje Fransman was just six years old. She was picked up by the mysterious Uncle Arthur from a streetcorner in Amsterdam and escorted by streetcar and train to a farm called De Keurhorst, in Sinderen, Gelderland. Loesje never learned Uncle Arthur’s last name and thus his identity remains unknown, but she clearly remembers Derk and Grada Colenbrander, who hid her on their farm. Derk and Grada treated Loesje well and even sent her to school. (Unfortunately, the headmaster soon lost confidence in Loesje and expelled her.) Derk and Grada also allowed her to visit her 11-year-old sister, Yvonne, who was hiding nearby. However, Yvonne was later betrayed and sent to Auschwitz, where she perished. At this point, it became too dangerous for Loesje to remain in Sinderen, and so she was transferred to the home of Grada’s sister and brother-in-law, Geert and Johanna Salomons*, in Bergentheim, Overijssel.
On May 10,1994, Yad Vashem recognized Derk Adolph Colenbrander and his wife, Grada Wesselina Colenbrander-Colenbrander, as Righteous Among the Nations.

Gezin 1

Huwelijkspartner: Derk Adolf Colenbrander geb. 16 MEI 1915 overl. 27 MRT 2003
Huwelijk: 9 MEI 1940 Varsseveld