PEACEFUL DEATH
Auschwitz survivor Lily Ebert dies at 100 after ‘trailblazing life’ teaching about Holocaust that killed mum & siblings
The Hungarian-born Holocaust survivor's 'zest for life' has been hailed
AN Auschwitz-Birkenau camp survivor has died aged 100 after leading a "trailblazing life".
Lily Ebert passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family, her great-grandson Dov Forman said on Wednesday.
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The Hungarian-born Holocaust survivor lost her mother and younger brother and sister to the horrific gas chambers during the Second World War.
Lily was shipped off to the concentration camp with her mum and four siblings in 1944.
When the family were taken to Auschwitz, Lily’s mother Nina, younger brother Bela and one sister Berta were immediately sent to the gas chambers.
Lily, then 20, and her two remaining sisters, Renee and Piri, were selected for the work camp, where they forced into hard labour.
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In the years that followed her liberation, Lily vowed to tell her story.
Bestseller Lily's Promise was then published with the help of co-author Mr Forman.
In January 2023, she was recognised with an MBE for her services to Holocaust education.
In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Mr Forman said the family's "beloved matriarch", known as Safta, would be hugely missed.
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He wrote: "Over the years, Safta's story touched hundreds of millions worldwide, reminding us of the resilience of the human spirit and the dangers of unchecked hatred.
"She taught us the power of tolerance and faith, the importance of speaking out, and the need to stand against prejudice.
"Safta was the queen of our large, loving family. With a surviving daughter and son - remembering a daughter who pre-deceased her - 10 grandchildren, 38 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild, her legacy lives on in each of us.
"She rebuilt her life with faith and love, never asking, 'why me?'. Instead, she focused on what could be rebuilt from the ashes, and her positivity continues to guide us through these difficult times.
"As we mourn our beloved Mummy, Safta, we also celebrate her extraordinary life. A light that shone so brightly has gone dark.
"She was our hero, and her absence leaves an unimaginable void in our lives."
King Charles, who previously met Lily in 2022, paid tribute to her.
He said: "It was with the greatest sadness that I heard this morning the news of Lily Ebert’s death.
"As a survivor of the unmentionable horrors of the Holocaust, I am so proud that she later found a home in Britain where she continued to tell the world of the horrendous atrocities she had witnessed, as a permanent reminder for our generation – and, indeed, for future generations – of the depths of depravity and evil to which humankind can fall, when reason, compassion and truth are abandoned.
"Alongside other Holocaust survivors she became an integral part of the fabric of our nation; her extraordinary resilience and courage an example to us all, which will never be forgotten. Charles R."
The Association of Jewish Refugees hailed her "zest for life".
The organisation's chief executive, Michael Newman, said: "Lily was a trailblazing advocate for Holocaust education - her special connection with her great-grandson, Dov, helped to bridge the generation gap and reach millions of people through social media.
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"As we approach the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz this Holocaust Memorial Day, Lily's zest for life will burn brightly in our thoughts."
Fewer than 500 survivors of Hitler’s death camps are still alive in Britain today.
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