Herta, at left, born in 1905 and her sister Rita (Margarete), at right, born in 1905, sit beneath the decorated Christmas tree in their home with their dolls and other Christmas presents around them. The Christmas tree had real candles. The other decorations on the tree were homemade and consisted of nuts and homemade cookies. These girls were the daughters of Dietrich and Anna (Wiens) Rempel, Elfrieda (Gossen) Dyck’s grandparents and Rita was the mother of Elfrieda (Gossen) Dyck. Anna (Wiens) Rempel was born in Bachmut and likely both of her daughters were born there as well. It is not known when the family moved to Halbstadt.
Mr. Hänsel, at left, Anna (Wiens) Rempel in the middle and her husband Dietrich Rempel, share a toast at an outdoor picnic. Anna and Dietrich are Elfrieda (Gossen) Dyck’s maternal grandparents. The two daughters of Anna and Dietrich: Rita (Margarete) at the left, mother of Elfrieda (Gossen) Dyck and Herta on the right, sit with their parents.
Nicholas J. Fehderau with his older sister, Tina, in the garden facing Zentraljnana Strasse. An iron fence surrounded the property. The family pet dog, “Scharik” is on Tina’s lap.
Nicholas J. Fehderau’s second oldest sister, Tina. As a young woman, Tina spent a year in Plauen, Vogtland, Germany at Housekeeping School (ca 1915). While there she learned about photography. On her return to the Ukraine, Tina took great pleasure in taking and developing her own pictures. Some of the following casual family poses were likely taken by her. See From the Heights into the Depths, p.69