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May 14, 2008 11:58 am US/Eastern
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Red Cross Reuniting Holocaust Survivors
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
The American Red Cross said they have located the brother of a Philadelphia woman after
the two were separated over six decades ago during the Holocaust.
Officials said 83-year-old Irene Famulak, who lives in the Art Museum area,
recently learned her brother, 81-year-old George Galizkij, is living somewhere
in Ukraine.
The two have not seen each other in 66 years.
The family was separated in 1942 when the Nazis invaded their Ukrainian home
and split up the six siblings and their parents. Famulak was sent to Germany
to be a cook while it is unclear what happened to Galizkij.
Famulak, who was 17 at the time, said her days were grueling.
"We worked from until 7 in the morning until 7 at night," she
said.
The months turned into years and Famulak eventually married and moved to the
United States.
She settled in Philadelphia,
but never heard from any of her family again.
But with the help of the Holocaust and War
Victims Tracing
Center of the American Red Cross in Baltimore, officials were
able to eventually locate her youngest brother.
Galizkij contacted the Red Cross Tracing Center and a short time later,
Famulak learned he was still alive and looking for her.
"I said, 'My God.' It's my dream, it's a good thing," she said.
While the two have not yet spoken, the Red Cross is working on planning for
them to meet. Famulak's daughter said the family will most likely travel to the
Ukraine
to see her brother and possibly two sisters.
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter of the Red Cross is currently working to
trace 18 Holocaust survivors in the Philadelphia
area.
(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)