Johanna van Grootveld
| Geslacht: | Vrouw | |
| Vader: | Johannes van Grootveld | |
| Moeder: | Willemijntje Spaargen | |
| Aantekeningen: | Last Name: Grootveld van First Name: Johanna Alias: ANNIE Date of Birth: 21/12/1926 Date of death: 19/06/1989 Rescuer's fate: survived Nationality: THE NETHERLANDS Gender: Female Place during the war: Hoofddorp, Noordholland, The Netherlands Rescue Place: Hoofddorp, Noordholland, The Netherlands Rescue mode: Hiding File number: File from the Collection of the Righteous Among the Nations Department (M.31.2/7921) In 1943, Willemijntje and Johannes van Grootveld of Hoofddorp, North Holland, welcomed a three-year-old girl they only knew by the name of Elly into their home, but after awhile her parents took her back. Later, they temporarily hid a woman and an infant, who soon moved on to the Bogaard* family in Nieuw-Vennep. Then, on September 23, 1943, three-month-old Ronald Piller was taken to the van Grootvelds, ostensibly for just one night. However, during the evening, Johannes said to his wife: "He's going to stay. I won't let him travel again." And thus, with the help of Cornelis van Stam*, Ronald was registered as Willem, the son of Johannes and Willemijntje van Grootveld and the "brother" of their 17-year-old daughter, Johanna (Anny). Friends and neighbors brought the van Grootvelds baby clothes and the Resistance provided them with ration cards. The local doctor helped whenever necessary. There was no financial agreement and no religious motives were involved. When the van Grootvelds heard that their foster son's brothers and sisters were hidden nearby, they often invited them over to their home to play with their sibling. At the end of the war, Ronald was two years old. His mother had perished in a death camp and his father died in 1952. Ronald remained with the van Grootvelds until he married, and thereafter he continued to visit them every week. His six siblings all remained in contact with Johannes, Willemijntje, and Anny and were always welcome in their home. On January 7, 1998, Yad Vashem recognized Johannes van Grootveld, his wife, Willemijntje van Grootveld-Spaargaren, and their daughter, Johanna van Grootveld, as Righteous Among the Nations. |
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