Cornelia de Bruijn

Geslacht: Vrouw
Vader: Daniel de Bruijn
Moeder: Cornelia de Bruin
Geboren: 8 Jan 1900 Delft
Religie: Ned. Hervormd, Rooms Katholiek
Aantekeningen: Last Name: Geenen van
First Name: Cornelia
Maiden Name: Bruyn de
Date of Birth: 08/01/1900
Date of death: 16/02/1993
Rescuer's fate: survived
Nationality: THE NETHERLANDS
Gender: Female
Place during the war: Delft, Zuidholland, The Netherlands
Rescue Place: Delft, Zuidholland, The Netherlands
Rescue mode: Hiding
File number: File from the Collection of the Righteous Among the Nations Department (M.31.2/1649)
When the Germans began to deport the Jews from The Hague in August 1942, Herta Heijmans contacted a local priest who had recruited people willing to hide Jews from among his parishioners. Through him, Herta and her two children, 16-year-old Jochanan and 13-year-old Carla, found a hiding place in The Hague, but it soon turned out that they were in danger of being betrayed. Thus, Herta again contacted the priest and this time she was directed to Waltherius and Cornelia van Geenen, who lived in Delft with their seven children aged four to 19. Originally, Herta and her children were only meant to remain with the van Geenens until a permanent hideout was found. However, they ended up staying there until the end of the war. The van Geenens lived above the barbershop and beauty parlor that they ran. Three extra people were quite a strain on them---they had to accommodate 12 people in their three-bedroom apartment. Nonetheless, Herta and her children were given one of the bedrooms. The extra people also proved to be a strain on the van Geenens' modest income, and Herta could only afford to pay partially towards her family's expenses. During the day, Herta, Jochanan, and Carla were allowed to move freely around the apartment. The van Geenens' children knew of the presence of Jews in their home but were forbidden to discuss it with anybody. No relatives, friends, or neighbors were aware that Waltherius and Cornelia were harboring fugitives. Thus, whenever visitors came to the apartment, Herta, Jochanan, and Carla had to remain in their bedroom. Waltherius and Cornelia knew that they were endangering their lives and the lives of their children, but they felt it was their moral due to help rescue Jews.
On June 19, 1979, Yad Vashem recognized Waltherius Adrianus van Geenen and his wife, Cornelia van Geenen-de Bruyn, as Righteous Among the Nations.

Gezin 1

Huwelijkspartner: Waltherus Adrianus van Geenen geb. 18 Dec 1899
Huwelijk: 16 Feb 1921 Delft