My maternal grandmother, migrated to Ellis Island from Bremen, Germany, Dec. 27th, 1907, as Chanie Mordkowicz. She was 2 years old, at the time, birthdate, Aug. 10, 1905.  She eventually married Morris Kemper, Feb. 19th, 1927 and had 2 children, a son and daughter (my mother, Marilyn Kemper).  She came over on the Barbarossa ship to Ellis Island. Anna was from Chorostkoff, Austria, race listed as Hebrew.  My grandmother, as a wife and mother, started out as a married woman, in the dry cleaning business, but eventually moved to Vineland, NJ, where my grandfather, Morris raised chickens and sold eggs for a living.  I spent many a week at their Civil War home in NJ, helping to candle and collect eggs.  The memories I have of my grandmother to this day, still remain. She sang children songs with finger play, taught me to knit European (continental style) which is very easy, and not familiar. She and my grandfather eventually divorced due to differences in intellect, but I still carry the traditions she taught me. Sadly, my Uncle Jerry died at age 38, six weeks before my own father at age 43.  But we still remember them and the love and traditions.  

– Paula Neidorf

Relationship:  Grandchild of im/migrant Grandchild of im/migrant