Mother and daughter reunite after 80 years apart! In 1939, Gerda Cole an only child living in Vienna, was sent by her parents to England for safety. In 1942 at just 18 years old, Gerda had to give away her newborn daughter, as she was a Jewish refugee at the height of WWII. Later Gerda moved to Canada and went on to earn 3 university degrees including an honors BA from the University of Toronto in Jewish studies. She did not have any other children. Sonya Grist, Gerda’s daughter, who lives in England, discovered this past year that her biological mother is alive and lives in Toronto. On May 7th, Gerda’s 98th birthday and 8 decades later, the mother and daughter finally meet again.
Photo: Stephen Grist
