Aronsen, Yvonne

Yvonne Aronsen was born April 5, 1939 in Brussels, Belgium. Her family originally came from Vienna, Austria. Others had made their way to the United States – and back to Austria – while others lived in Berlin. Many, including Yvonne’s father, were murdered during the Shoah; he was sent to a labour camp in southern France before being sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau.  Yvonne and her mother were able to go into hiding:  her mother was a novice nun and governess, taking care of 25 children in the convent orphanage. At one point her mother became very ill, and during that time they lived in a damp cellar with only one window. A pharmacist’s wife tended to her mother for 3 days, during which time Yvonne played with her doll and spoke only in whispers. They left the convent during this time, and Yvonne’s mother contacted the Belgian underground.  They were able to connect Yvonne’s mother to a widow, Jeanne, to keep Yvonne safe, and her mother would come to visit her on Sundays. Yvonne taught herself to read and said it was her escape from the everyday tedium. Yvonne grew up in a largely adult world, as she was not allowed to have friends while in hiding. She recalls being happy when the war was over, though she had little information about what had happened. Her mother came to retrieve her, and from 1946 to 1947 she was enrolled in first and second grade at a Catholic school in Brussels. In 1947 the family emigrated to the USA, to the South Side of Chicago, where Yvonne attended Kenwood School in Hyde Park, building her life as an American child. Those early years were not easy as it took Yvonne some time to learn English and to fit in. She did though, and over time she looked to rebuild her family connections, making trips to Europe and attending family reunions. Her son continued this in 1995, encouraging his mother to interview with the Shoah Foundation, a moment that spurred her interest and resolve to become involved in Holocaust education, a cause to which she remains committed. Yvonne joined us via zoom in March 2026 courtesy of Deb Bowen and the Illinois Holocaust Museum.