In the cabinet of my late great-aunt, I found the photograph shown above. I already knew that the woman in the middle was her aunt on her mother’s side—Margaretha Konijn, known as Grietje. Grietje was born in 1900, never married, and spent most of her life living with her three brothers: Willem, Jan, and Jaap. Of her siblings, only her older sister Jansje and her older brother Dorus married.

Standing to Grietje’s right in the photograph is her younger sister, Catharina Anna Konijn. Sadly, Catharina passed away at a young age; she was born in 1910 and died in 1937 from tuberculosis. As the photograph was likely taken around 1920, she would have been about ten years old at the time.

For a long time, the identity of the other girl—who appears only slightly older than Catharina and was known to be named Gretha—remained a mystery. None of my family members recognized her or had any idea who she might be. As a result, the photograph remained tucked away for years in the old cigar box of my late great-aunt.

It was only when I visited my second cousin Corrie that the mystery was solved. When I showed her the photograph, she immediately said, “Of course I know who this is.”

During and after the First World War, many Austrian families suffered greatly, and numerous children were sent to the Netherlands to recover. In the Dutch village of Venhuizen, the Konijn family was among those who offered help. This is how Gretha Leep, from Linzen on the Danube in Austria, came to stay with them for an unknown period of time.

According to a story Corrie heard from her mother—whose aunt was Grietje—Gretha and Grietje met again long after the war. Gretha remained deeply grateful for the care and kindness she had received during her stay.

Grietje passed away in 1979. She died quietly in church, during prayer. As a devoted Catholic, it feels fitting that her faith accompanied her in her final moments. To me, she remains an impressive and strong woman—something clearly reflected in this photograph. Although I never knew her personally, the stories passed down through the family make me feel as though I have come to know her, at least a little.