bronia

Bronia Roslawowski, age 88, of Kansas City, died July 14, 2010, at Menorah Medical Center. She was born in Turek, Poland, on December 23, 1921, to Hersh and Bluma Kibel. As a child, she was educated at Beis Yaakov. During World War II, Bronia was imprisoned in several Nazi concentration camps including Auschwitz. After being liberated by the United States Army (for which she was always grateful to America), she worked with the Army in displaced persons’ camps. In 1948, Bronia immigrated to the United States. Not knowing where to settle, she asked where President Truman was from and decided that if Missouri was a good place for the president’s family, it would be a good place for hers. In her early years in Kansas City, she had many jobs including caring for newborns at Baptist Hospital. She often worked three jobs to support her children. For many years, she and her husband Mendel owned M & M Bakery where Bronia passed out love and doughnuts to generations of children, and bread and sandwiches to their families. She was proud of the success of all of those who worked with her, particularly those who continued in the bakery business. Bronia frequently spoke to schools and community groups about her experiences during the Holocaust, teaching messages of love and justice. “I don’t hate the Nazis,” she would say, “so no one has the right to hate.” She taught that she was saved by righteous Jews and non-Jews alike. “Look out for your neighbor because, if you don’t, no one else will.” Bronia was unfailingly loving, and she herself was loved by people from every part of the community. As she always said, “What a baker puts into the oven, she takes out of the oven.”