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JOZEPH DE HAAN In Memory of
by Judy de Haan
Jozeph de Haan, a survivor of the Holocaust, a beloved member of his community, and our dear dad and Opa Joe, passed away peacefully on 28 January 2023, at the age of 100.
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Born on 12 October 1922, in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Dad had a carefree childhood and dreamed of becoming a diamond polisher. However, the outbreak of World War Two shattered his dreams and forced him into hiding to evade Nazi roundups. Dad spent approximately two years living with famers in the northern province of Friesland where he hid at night in a small attic. During the day Dad made himself useful by milking the cows and learning to make wool by hand on the farmer’s wife’s spinning machine. He became really proficient and the farmer’s wife was able to produce jumpers that were quite the envy of all the neighbourhood! Despite the many obstacles he faced, Dad persevered and built a life filled with love and community.
After the war, our dad met and married our mum, Cecilia de Wolff, who was also a Holocaust survivor, and together they immigrated to South Africa, where they started a family. They enjoyed many happy years in Cape
Town raising their two children Michael and Judy, before moving to Melbourne, Australia to be closer to Judy, son-in-law Bentley z’’l, and grandchildren Dylan and Jordan.
Dad was an active man who loved playing tennis, going to the gym, and cooking. He was known for his delicious apple cake, his famous Dutch apple mousse dessert, and his legendary orange cake. But more than anything, Dad was loved for his charismatic personality, his ability to tell a good joke, and his dedication to educating others about the Holocaust.
As a survivor, Dad felt it was his duty to share his story and to spread the word of love for his fellow man. He did this through his work at the Melbourne Holocaust Museum, where he shared his experiences with children and adults alike. His stories of endurance and perseverance were an inspiration to all who heard them. Dad will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved him.
Joseph Franck
Mark Saltzman
Danny Lustig
Gideon Rathner
Joseph Kalb
Daniel Franck
Loren Datt
Richard Horvath
