Mary Hurov
As related by Mrs. Goldberg:
“I was born Mary Zeidel and was raised in a Polish village called Lopiennik, near Lublin. My parents were also born in Poland in a village called Faselvitz.
“So, in 1926, my cousins sent me a ticket. I left my family to go to Canada, not knowing that I would never see them again. They all perished in the Holocaust.
“It took three weeks to reach Canada. I travelled by boat and train and finally arrived in Eyre, Saskatchewan, to my cousins, Mr. and Mrs. Max Klein and their family. They were happy that I came. I had to help in the house and with the farm chores like milking cows, tending to the chickens, etc. It wasn’t easy. I also went to school there. The school was about three miles away, so I had to go with horse and buggy. I stayed there for three years, then I decided to move on.
“I wanted to go to a city, so I came to Calgary in December, 1929. I didn’t know anybody here. But my cousins, the Kleins, knew a family by the name of Rootman. Sam Mozeson met me at the CNR station when I arrived. I took up residence with the Rootmans.
“I had to start looking for a job and got one with Pat Burns and Co. making wieners at 25 cents an hour. After a few months I got a 2½ cent raise. I worked there for one year and then was laid off, so I had to get another job. I found one at the Clifton Grocery and Confectionery store for $10 per week.
“Bob Hurov was my boss. After I worked there for several months, Bob and I fell in love and I married my boss in 1931. We had four children: Ronnie Hurov, Harvey Hurov, Shirley Goldberg and Estelle Bleet.
“Unfortunately, Bob passed away in 1947. I was left with my four beautiful children, the oldest being 13 and youngest 2½. I was working hard and long hours in my store to raise and educate my children.
“After my children grew up, I met Louis Goldberg (whose son Arnold married my daughter Shirley). We were married in 1966 and, after eleven years of our wonderful life together, Louis passed away in 1977.
“My children are now married and I have 13 grandchildren, who give me much happiness.”
