jordan wegner
Lighthouse: The Story of Ingrid Penn
Canada is a place I've been able to call home for all of my life. Physical and cultural displacement are things I've never had to endure, primarily due to the journeys of my ancestors. One of these journeys stands out as a remarkable example of strength, willpower, and motivation. This audio documentary explores the story of my grandma's harrowing escape from Germany in 1945.
Special thanks to my grandpa, my aunt Karen, my aunt Ruby, and my Dad for making this documentary possible. Their information was crucial to tell this story properly and respectfully. Love you all!
"Tata" Elizabeth Strelow
This is a photo of my grandma's aunt Tata. Tata is considered to be the primary parental figure in my grandma's life, as she saved her from an orphanage and took care of her throughout their harrowing journey while my great-grandma was away working.
(Left to Right) - Tata, Ingrid & Rosa
This photo from 1952 shows the group of three women when they arrived in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They had taken a boat from Flensburg, Germany, to Quebec, then a train from Montreal to Winnipeg. At this point, my grandma (middle) was only ten.
Ingrid Penn
This photo shows my grandma as a young adult. At the time, she had an apartment in Winnipeg and worked as a legal secretary. As a result of this work, she learned shorthand; an abbreviated symbolic writing method meant to the increase speed and brevity of note-taking.
Ingrid Penn's Wedding Party
In 1961, my grandma got married to my grandpa Harold Wegner. Holding my grandma's arm in this photo is Karl Tauber, her stepfather. Karl met Rosa when the group arrived in Winnipeg. Later in life Rosa and Karl moved to Vancouver while Ingrid and Tata stayed in Winnipeg.
Ingrid Penn and Her Family
This photo shows my grandma's direct and extended family. My grandma is on the far left, followed by her half-brother Norm, her first child Ruby, her mother Rosa, her half-brother Ron, her second child Gerald, her third child Karen, her husband Harold, and her aunt Tata.
Ingrid Wegner & Harold Wegner
This photo shows my grandparents in the mid-2000s. In 2011, the couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. They still live in Manitoba today, although my grandma lives in a nursing home due to her battle with dementia.
For the last half-decade, my grandma has been battling dementia. This has had a massive effect on our family, as recently she's had trouble recognizing those close to her. If you would like to help support the fight against dementia, please consider donating to the following organization or another charity of your choice.