Janet Nahmia, the last Auschwitz survivor from Ioannina, Greece, passed away on Monday, December 2, just weeks before her 100th birthday. Her passing marks the end of an era for the Jewish community in Ioannina, where she was a living link to a tragic chapter of history.
Early Life in Ioannina
Born in 1925 to Chaim and Rebecca Nahmia (née Mordechai), Janet grew up in Ioannina’s Jewish quarter, within the city’s historic castle. The Nahmia family, with six children, lived across from the neighbourhood synagogue, while Chaim ran a tavern. Janet attended the Alliance Israélite Universelle school, learning Greek, Hebrew, and French before leaving after Grade 5 to assist her mother with household chores.
Deportation and Survival
In March 1944, Janet and her family were among the Jews of Ioannina deported by the Nazis to Auschwitz. She later endured forced labor in camps such as Mauthausen, Gellenau, and a factory in Breslau, Poland. Out of her entire family, only she and her older brother Michael survived the Holocaust.
Life After Liberation
After the liberation, Janet returned to Ioannina and married Israel Cheeto, another Auschwitz survivor. Together, they rebuilt their lives, raising children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Janet remained an active member of the Jewish community, sharing her story to preserve the memory of those lost.
A Glimpse of Life Before the War
Janet’s vivid memories painted a picture of a vibrant pre-war Jewish community. She described the traditions of Shabbat, recalling the preparation of pies—cheese or spinach—and the bustling family life centered around the synagogue and shared meals. Fridays were especially busy, with women baking bread and preparing the household for the Sabbath, while the men worked or attended synagogue.
“My mother would wake at 4 a.m. to knead the dough and heat the oven. By Saturday, everything in the house sparkled,” she once reminisced.