Ilona Seifert's paternal grandparents Bernat and Julia Riemer

My grandparents, the Riemers, in their carriage, with their coachman. Grandfather Riemer had several coaches, both open and closed, which the family used when they went out. The photo is from the 1920s. My grandmother, Julia was born in Vienna, date unknown. Her mother tongue was German, but she could also speak perfect Hungarian. They had eight children: three boys and five girls. All eight children finished middle school, but one of my uncles graduated from secondary school, because he loved studying. My grandfather taught all his sons the bakery trade because he thought it a very good trade, since no matter what the world came to, people would always be needing bread and water. All three of his sons became bakers. The girls were brought up to work, too. They had to tend the counter in the shop and they worked there until they married. Two girls were always in the shop. In fact, only family members worked there. Grandmother also worked in the shop and usually sat at the cash till. Apart from having to work, the girls were given everything they needed. They got the nicest clothes, the best education, learned foreign languages, played the piano, and went out with their Mum. Grandfather and grandmother put a lot of emphasis on taking the children to balls during the winter season. The girls got beautiful ball gowns, and didn't want for anything, but they worked in the shop all year long. Grandfather died in 1927. Following his death, the bakery and the shop closed down. None of his children took them over, because they all had their own bakery businesses to run. Grandmother lived until about the end of the 30's. When she couldn't be at home any more, she moved into a very, very elegant nursing home somewhere in Zugliget. It was a strictly Jewish kosher place, and there she received the best care.

Photos from this interviewee