The funeral of Szlome Solowiejczyk

This is a photo of my father's funeral. Here you can see me and my mother, Chaja Pesia Solowiejczyk [second from right]. The photo was taken in Lodz in 1970. The photographer's name was Schajnert. After World War II my parents lived in Oszmiana, but the situation at home was difficult. My brother's father-in-law moved in with them, a former 'chekista', an activist of the internal security organization in Soviet Russia, operating in 1917-1922, responsible for repressions, mentally ill. It was impossible to live with him. We decided my parents would move in with us. Such things could be arranged quickly then. Just one month. I wrote to Moscow, to the Polish Embassy. I attached a certificate that my room had an area of over 40 square meters, plus a 12-meter kitchen. I didn't tell them how many rooms, just the area. I signed a declaration that I would not apply for a new apartment. They sent an answer immediately, sent the papers. This was in 1967. When they were allowed to come here, we went to bring them over here. They settled here. In Lodz. My parents lived with us in this apartment on Wieckowskiego Street. Father lived there until he died in 1970. My parents felt well here. My mother found some friends quickly. My father started going to the synagogue. I took them to the Synagogue on Rewolucji 1905 Roku Street. The synagogue is still there. And he liked going to the Jewish community. All in all, Father didn't live long here, some two years. He was 80 when he died. It was a blood clot. He never checked his blood pressure, never went to the doctor, never took any pills. He was always in good shape, healthy. When he died in hospital on the second day after he was admitted, Mother said: 'Son, you have to deserve such a death.' And she had to suffer, poor woman. She had surgery, after that she lived for a year longer. She suffered for seven months. She died in 1972.