Pavla Weissensteinova and her children

I'd estimate that this picture is from the 1920s, judging by the period clothing worn by my mother Ella Wernerova (nee Weissensteinova), who on the photograph is standing on the far left. Her mother, my grandmother Pavla Weissensteinova (nee Pollakova) - after whom I'm named, by the way - is sitting in the middle in the wicker chair. My mother’s brother Otto Weissenstein is on the right. The photo was taken at some spa, where the Weissenstein family used to go on vacation during the time of the First (Czechoslovak) Republic (1918-1938).

My grandma was born on 17th November 1868 in Nachod, where she also lived her entire life. I remember that my grandmother was ill, she suffered from heart disease, I recall that she had spots on her arms from leeches that were applied to the body, to lower the patient's blood pressure. I remember by grandma very foggily, the only thing that's remained is the impression that she was ill and that her arms were purple from the application of leeches. From photographs I know that we used to visit her, but I really otherwise don't remember, I was very little.

My mother was born on 4th May 1905 in Nachod. She was this refined figure, she was very cultivated. She had an older brother, Otto Weissenstein, who was born on 1st March 1894 in Nachod. Uncle Otto had this magical box, which when it was opened in some fashion, always contained a candy. I've always loved sweets, which is something that has stayed with me, so I remember this impression very well. Every time he saw me, which wasn't that often, he always had that candy box with him.