Clara Herscu and Toni Smilovici

Here's a photo of my mother, Clara Herscu (on the right) and her sister, Toni Smilovici. I don't know on what occasion it was taken, but it must have been something special. My mother was born in Iasi, in the house on Aron Voda Street, around 1902. She had three younger sisters. My mother was a very beautiful woman. Someone once told me, many years after, 'I liked to passing by your window only to see your mother.' Her hair was always done and she was always fixed up. She wouldn't leave the house unless she looked perfect; she'd say, 'How can I go out if my hair isn't combed and done?' A truly beautiful woman: I say it with no hesitation. And so were her sisters. They were all beautiful and elegant girls. The first one who was born after my mother was Toni Smilovici, of course, the last name is her husband's; she was born in 1904, was a housewife and died in 1974 in Iasi. Her husband's name was Leon; he was born in 1901 in Iasi, and was a tailor. They had a son, Nelu, who was born in 1929 and died in 1994. Nelu was an economist. My parents got married in 1927. The wedding party took place in a very fancy hall where such events were organized. I think its name was 'Sport si muzica'. Many Jews used to go there, maybe Christians too, but it was very expensive and Jews usually had a better material situation. My mother used to tell us that balls were organized in this hall on Saturdays; young men and women would meet there to dance and snacks were served. In 1928 my sister, Silvi, was born. My mother was a very pedantic woman and dressed us in beautiful and neat clothes, but nothing fancy. My mother didn't have a job. In that period women didn't work.