Elisabeth Emma Anna (Herzog) Praxmarer (1907 - 2000)

Born 4 Jun 1907 in Zwittau (Svitavy), Czech Republic

Wife of Zahki Fakhr el Din — married about 1924 (to about 1931) in Vienna

Wife of Rudolf Praxmarer — married 8 Dec 1941 (to 27 Apr 1975) in Vienna, 3. Bezirk Alsergrund

Died 6 Dec 2000 at age 93 in Vienna, Austria

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Sasha Meyer [send private message]

Biography

Elisabeth (Ilse) Herzog was born in Zwittau, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, in 1907. Her father died when she was very young and she also lost a little brother who I believe was called Rudolf. Her mother relied on her very much, and that was tough for Ilse. When she met Egyptian born Zahki Fahkr el Din at the age of 17, she saw an opportunity to leave home and got married. This was not easy: she had to get official permission, declaring her an adult - and as Zahki was a Muslim, she also had to officially leave the Catholic church. The marriage was happy at first, but when Zahki insisted on taking her home to his native Cairo, Ilse refused. Some unhappy years followed and eventually they got divorced in 1931.

During the war, Ilse met Rolf Praxmarer, an Austrian navy man on leave in Vienna. They got married in 1941 and lived first at Bösendorferstrasse and later in a third-floor apartment at Lobkowitzplatz 1. This apartment would be their home for many decades. I (Rolf's granddaughter Sasha , born 1957) remember the place well from many visits. It was a nice place with big windows and a wonderful view over the Albertinaplatz and the opera building.

Ilse and Rolf were happy together. They played golf at the club in the Prater park and enjoyed travelling, mainly to Italy, during holidays. Ilse and Rolf had no children together, but I got on very well with her and called her Oma Ilse. After Rolf died in 1975, Ilse stayed in the apartment for many years. She learned to play bridge and had some good friends she saw regularly. My mother, Rolf's daughter Nonny also came over from Holland at least once a year to stay with her. Ilse was a strong lady, very independent and even at a high age quite good looking. I never saw her without lipstick and well-manicured fingernails. In 1998, when Ilse was 91, she moved away from her beloved Lobkowitzplatz to the Seniorenheim at Hartäckerstrasse - grudgingly. She lived there well cared for but with obvious sadness and passed away in 2000. She was laid to rest with Rolf, at Hietzinger Friedhof.^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ Entered by Sasha Meyer, Wednesday, August 11, 2013.

Also:

• Documents and pictures from our family archives -- plus a lot of personal memories.

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Sasha Meyer for creating Herzog-156 on 31 Jul 13. Click the Changes tab for the details on contributions by Sasha and others.

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