Helena de Wit

Geslacht: Vrouw
Vader: Johan Hendrik de Wit
Moeder: Susanna Corbet
Geboren: 6 Apr 1889 Amsterdam
Overleden: 19 Sept 1982 Amsterdam
Religie: G.K.
Aantekeningen: Last Name: Bruynje
First Name: Helena
Date of Birth: 06/04/1989
Date of death: 19/09/1982
Rescuer's fate: survived
Nationality: THE NETHERLANDS
Religion: CALVINIST
Gender: Female
Place during the war: Amsterdam, Noordholland, The Netherlands
Rescue Place: Amsterdam, Noordholland, The Netherlands
Rescue mode: Hiding
File number: File from the Collection of the Righteous Among the Nations Department (M.31.2/8193)
Arnold Bruynjé, who was a deeply religious member of the Dutch Reformed Church, lived with his wife, Helena, and their son, Johan Hendrik (Henk), in a small apartment in Amsterdam. His daughter had recently left home, having married, and so the couple decided to shelter a Jewish fugitive, Lazarus (Leo) van Gelder, for the last two years of the war. When Leo's father fled Westerbork after one week of detention in the camp in September 1942, he and his wife had decided that the family, including Leo and his sister, had to go into hiding. The van Gelders had connections with a Reverend Feenstra, who arranged underground addresses and ration cards for them through the Resistance. The Bruynjés agreed to take in Leo, believing they had a duty to save this young Jewish student, despite the fact that Arnold Bruynjé, a carpenter, was often out of work so that there was little money at their disposal. Whenever there was a razzia, Henk would take Leo to stay with other members of the family until the immediate danger was over. One night, Leo's parents, who were hiding close to the Bruynjés' home, were forced to leave their hideout when they received word of an imminent raid. The Bruynjés allowed the couple to stay in the three-foot-high cellar under their stairs. Leo was treated like a member of the family and encouraged to continue with his studies and play music. He remained close to the Bruynjés after the war, but Arnold always refused to be honored for his wartime activities while he was still alive. When Helena Bruynjé passed away, Leo's name appeared as "one of the children" in the death announcement.
On October 22, 1998, Yad Vashem recognized Arnold Bruynjé, his wife, Helena Bruynjé-de Wit, and their son, Johan Hendrik Bruynjé, as Righteous Among the Nations.

Gezin 1

Huwelijkspartner: Arnold Bruijnjé geb. 3 Juni 1889 overl. 23 Jan 1980
Huwelijk: 21 Aug 1913 Amsterdam
Kinderen:
  Jacoba Aafje Bruijnjé Female geb. 22 Feb 1914
  Susanna Bruijnjé Female geb. 3 Juli 1916
  Cornelis Bruijnjé Female geb. 11 Feb 1918
  Johanna Hendrika Bruijnjé Female geb. 9 Nov 1920
  Arnold Bruijnjé Female geb. 12 Juli 1922
  Johan Hendrik Bruijnjé Female geb. 22 Feb 1926