Lest It Be Forgotten After I Am Gone: The Tragedy Years - 4
Raymon Benedyk continues his autobiography, telling of some of the hardest days in his life.
The funeral took place three days later and the cemetery chapel was packed, with many having to stand outside. The officiating minister was really wonderful and most generous in his words. I received almost one thousand letters and cards from all over the world, from former pupils at her schools and the teachers, colleagues in the B'nai B'rith movement with whom she worked almost until she became too ill to do so, from people with whom she had been in contact over the years, many of whom I did not know, and of course from friends and relatives, all of which was comforting and for which I was most grateful. I have kept them all in files and folders for posterity.
In view of Elsa's previous correspondence with the Queen, I took the liberty of writing to Her Majesty at this time, quite a long letter in fact telling her what had happened to Elsa, setting out the several occasions that she and I had 'met' and how my path had crossed that of members of her family over the years, asking that Elsa receive some posthumous award for her years of work amongst the very young and youth. I received a most courteous reply. Well, I tried.
As it happens, in appreciation of Elsa and in her memory lodge members set up, entirely without my knowledge, the Elsa Benedyk Memorial Fund to raise money to support needy children surviving in abject conditions in Eastern Europe, as well as a children's hospital in Israel.
It is well supported and, to date, nearly £5000 has been donated from this fund.
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BUCKINGHAM PALACE
27th June, 2001
Dear Mr. Benedyk,
The Queen has asked me to thank you for your letter of 22nd June from which Her Majesty was naturally sad to learn of the death of your wife, Elsa, earlier this month.
The Queen sends you and your family her sincere sympathy in your loss, and can, of course, understand your reasons for writing as you did to ask if there might be a posthumous award by which the busy life of your late wife might be recognised. I am sorry to send you a disappointing reply, however, but the only posthumous awards which are made in the Honours Lists are those for Gallantry for which your wife would not qualify. I wonder if you have thought of a more visible memorial such as a tree, bench or plaque which would be a permanent reminder of Mrs. Benedyk's numerous interests?
MRS. DEBORAH BEAN Chief Correspondence Officer
Thank you again for taking the time to write to The Queen. Yours sincerely
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If you wish to make a donation to the Elsa Benedyk Memorial Fund, set up by her friends and colleagues entirely without Raymon’s knowledge to provide funds to support the children's ward of the Shaare Zedek Hospital in Jerusalem to commemorate her life of work with children in her nursery schools, it would be most gratefully received. The amount that you give will not be revealed to Raymon. He is not a trustee of the fund. Your cheque, payable to the Fund, should be sent to the fund's Treasurer Mrs I Dokelman, 14 Charville Court, 30/32 Gayton Road, Harrow, Middx HA1 2HT.
