Sophia Palache-de Pinto had a good relationship with her former maid Rika van Willigenburg. After the war, Rika told the following story about the family Palache:
'The family Palache was a rich family and he was a professor. They were very good to me. Madam had many social commitments and I took care of the sons, one of which studied to become a rabbi while the little one still attended primary school. The latter boy was very affectionate towards me and I looked after him when his mother was not at home.(
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I often think back to when I had to leave them because of the Nazis. Madam was not able to wash up a single cup because they had so much staff. Later, they were taken away from their beautiful house. Because I was going out with a skipper at the time, I offered the professor to go into hiding on Piet's boat. He refused. They wanted to stay together and that is how they ended up at the concentration camp. Only the youngest son returned from the camp after the war and he came to our wedding.'
On 4 November 1942, Sophia W. Palache-de Pinto wrote a letter to Rika van Willigenburg. In it, she wrote:
'Dear Rika,
Although you are in Amersfoort, I still have not forgotten 5th November, you know. And now I want to send you my very best wishes for your birthday, also on behalf of my husband and the boys. I hope that all your wishes will come true in this new year and that we will be allowed to share all the good things coming to you.
Very much to our regret, we learned from Piet, when he came to see us last Sunday to ask how we were, that you don't dare to take the plunge with him. O Riekje, it saddens me for both of you. I was convinced that you two were so close, particularly in spiritual matters and that is what counts after all. On the other hand, it is better that you realised this before it was too late, because once you are married and things go wrong, the heartache is that much bigger.
But I do think it is a shame.
Fortunately, we are all well. Grandma had another heart attack, but she is making a good recovery. We all have a Sperre stamp here, so we are not too anxious at the moment. Unfortunately, the family nextdoor to us has gone away and other people have moved in, also with children. The front and back of our house has just been painted.
Will you be visiting A. some time soon? We hope you will come and see us. Leo has been given a cycling permit for his work and he has received another bicycle from the town. That is again a good deal of progress. He can come home now for a cup of coffee; before he always stayed in town with Mendes.
We have a new housemate, a cat, who has presumably also lost its home. It is already a very old animal.
I have gained some weight lately, at first I weighted 98 pounds but I expect that it has gone up to over 100 pounds. Isn't that wonderful ?
Jupie and I often bake biscuits, which is a lot cheaper than getting them on coupons and they taste much better, too. We have all sorts of recipes, nearly all of them without butter. Today, I expect some ladies to visit and this morning, I have baked some honey biscuits. Eighty in one batch, isn't that great?
Now, dearest Riek, very many regards from all of us. Jupie also forgot to congratulate you on behalf of Pim, so I will do that now. With a hearty kiss from
Your
S.W. Palache-de Pinto'
G. van Drosten, ’Een oude Meppeler sleepbootkapitein vertelt‘, in: Oud Meppel, jrg 23, nr 1:49
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