Sonja Messerschmidt

Portland-Sonja Messerschmidt died peacefully surrounded by family on Monday, October 25 after a courageous battle with breast cancer. Sonja was born in Berlin in 1925 and spent her early years with her parents Emmy and Sally (Sol) Kolbelsky in Nazi Germany. She had to leave school at age 16 to perform forced labor under the Nazi regime. After her parents were deported in the spring of 1943, Sonja was hidden by her fiancé, Kurt Messerschmidt, and his family.

Subsequently deported themselves, Sonja and Kurt were married in April 1944 in the Theresienstadt concentration camp in Czechoslovakia. After being separated and sent to different camps, they were eventually reunited in October, 1945, after Kurt found a hand-written note Sonja had left on a bulletin board at the Jewish Home for the Aged in Munich. In 1950, Sonja and Kurt emigrated to the United States and began a new life. They moved to Portland in 1951 and raised their children. Sonja was a major figure in the Jewish community as the wife of the Cantor at Temple Beth El, and was renowned for her warmth, her wisdom and her ability to make people laugh. She was an accomplished seamstress and even made her daughter’s wedding gown. In 1971, Sonja became the head of alterations at Ward Brothers, a women’s clothing store in South Portland. She loved the interaction with her co-workers and customers, always delighting them with her clever wit and keen sense of humor.

In retirement she and her husband traveled widely and made friends wherever they visited. They enjoyed spending time with their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, especially for holiday meals when Sonja made her famous blintzes and beef rouladen.

Sonja is survived by Kurt, her husband of 66 years, a daughter Eva Polisner and her husband Duane of Scarborough; a son Michael and his wife Lucinda of Cape Elizabeth; four grandchildren, Sarah Weber and her husband Tom of Reading Massachusetts; David Polisner and his wife Jennifer of Scarborough; Noah and Isaac Messerschmidt; and four great-grandchildren, Daniel and Joshua Polisner; Leah and Robert Weber.

Sonja’s family wishes to extend their heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the staff of The Cedars, The Atrium and Hospice of Southern Maine for the care that was extended to her during her recent illness.

A funeral service will be held on Thursday, October 28, at 11 AM at Temple Beth El, 400 Deering Avenue, Portland. Interment will be in Beth El Memorial Park, followed by visiting hours from 2-4 at the Atrium, 640 Ocean Avenue, Portland. Shiva will be observed from 6 to 7:30 pm Thursday, Saturday and Sunday evenings at the Atrium.

Arrangements by Jones, Rich & Hutchins Funeral Home, 199 Woodford St., Portland.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to:

Holocaust and Human Rights Center of Maine

The Michael Klahr Center

University of Maine at Augusta

46 University Drive

Augusta, ME 04330

OR

Susan G. Komen for the Cure

Attn: Donor Services

PO Box 650309

Dallas, TX 75265-0309