Places

Since her birth in 1911, and prior to her marriage in December 1934, Omi resided with her family in Rossitten.   After her marriage to Willi Sachtleber, they built a home not far from where she was raised.  She lived there until 1944.  Knowing Omi only as an adult, and an adult who traveled frequently, I was fascinated by the fact that she only moved twice between 1911 and 1944.  The years between 1944 and 1959, before she immigrated to the United States, were filled with frequent moves necessitated by a post-war Germany.

Once arriving in the states in May 1959, Omi traveled frequently, and exclusively, between the households of her two daughters – Helga and Ursula.  She lived in Italy, Germany, Okinawa, and Japan.  In the states she lived as far west as Takoma, Washington; as far north and east as Stonington, Maine; and as far south as Florida.

Stories shared about Omi by her two daughters and extended family – including six grandchildren – are contained within these pages.  Omi – nurturer, healer, dreamer, and mystic.  She was my personal source of unconditional love and through her I learned resiliency, strength, and compassion.  I also learned to cook, sew, and play a pretty good game of rummy.

Debbie