Maria Gertrude Houben
| Geslacht: | Vrouw | |
| Vader: | Mathijs Hubertus Houben | |
| Moeder: | Bernardina Wings | |
| Geboren: | 30 Dec 1908 | Meerssen |
| Religie: | Rooms Katholiek | |
| Beroep: | ziekenzuster | |
| Aantekeningen: | Last Name: Houben First Name: Maria Alias: EUNOMIA Title: SISTER Rescuer's fate: survived Nationality: THE NETHERLANDS Gender: Female Profession: NURSE Place during the war: Amersfoort, Utrecht, The Netherlands Rescue Place: Amersfoort, Utrecht, The Netherlands Rescue mode: Hiding File number: File from the Collection of the Righteous Among the Nations Department (M.31.2/2672) In July 1942, the four members of the Pais family of Amsterdam---parents, son, and daughter---went into hiding. After staying at several temporary addresses, they were escorted to the village of Voorthuizen, Gelderland. There, the family was arrested and imprisoned. However, eight-year-old Myra cleverly feigned illness and was hospitalized in the Elisabeth Hospital in Amersfoort, Utrecht. The German authorities decreed that the whole family should be deported as soon as Myra was discharged from the hospital. When the doctors discovered that the child was not actually sick, they wanted to send her away. Fortunately, a nurse, Maria Houben, Sister Eunomia, thwarted the staffs efforts and hid the girl in the hospital. By doing this, Maria further delayed the deportation of the Pais family. With time on their side, the family managed to escape from prison and go into hiding. Maria subsequently continued to care for Myra whereas her family found various other hiding places from October 1942 until September 1944. After the war, Myra maintained a close relationship with Maria. On September 27, 1983, Yad Vashem recognized Maria G. Houben (Sister Eunomia) as Righteous Among the Nations. |
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