rescuers of jews
Adomavičius Stasys
JUZĖ ADOMAVIČIENĖ
STASYS ADOMAVIČIUS
In the pre-war period, a large family of Ester and Shlomo Kacas lived in the village of Vydmantai, near Varniai. The Kacas family raised fourteen children and engaged in farming. Ester Šneideraitė-Kacienė passed away in 1938, and a year later, her husband Shlomo Kacas also passed away. In the same village of Vydmantai, also lived Ester Kacienė's brother Leiba Šneideris, with his wife Cvija and three children. Most members of this large family became victims of genocide. However, three sisters, Feiga Kacaitė, Ita, Chana, brother Sholom, and the granddaughter of the older Kacas, Sara Buchaitė, survived. The intervention of the priest Juozas Gasiūnas played a crucial role: he baptized the Kacas children, and with his mediation, the farmers, neighbours, and acquaintances in this area became their godparents and rescuers. Documents with Lithuanian names and surnames were provided for the Kacas children. Feiga Kacaitė became Zita Povilionytė (later Sabaliauskienė), Ita – Teresė Povilionytė (later Lileikienė), Chana – Jadvyga Povilionytė, Sholom Kacas – Juozas Poviliūnas, and the granddaughter of the older Kacas, Sara Buchaitė, became Aldona Povilionytė.
Zita (Feiga) Povilionytė-Sabaliauskienė was saved by Stanislava and Stanislovas Burba, Teresa (Ita) Povilionytė-Lileikienė was saved by the family of Uršulė and Vladas Šleževičius, brother Juozas Šolomas was saved by the Gintalas family, and Jadvyga (Chana) Povilionytė was saved by Stasys and Juzė Adomavičius, who lived in the village of Šilai.
When rumours spread that the Kacas children were in hiding, their rescuers would transport them to their friends or acquaintances. After the war, the Kacas sisters lived with their rescuers for some time, maintaining friendly and warm relationships with them until the end of their lives.
In 2016, Stasys and Juzė Adomavičiai – the Rescuers of Chana Jadvyga Kacaitė-Povilionytė, were awarded the Life Saviours Cross.
STASYS ADOMAVIČIUS
In the pre-war period, a large family of Ester and Shlomo Kacas lived in the village of Vydmantai, near Varniai. The Kacas family raised fourteen children and engaged in farming. Ester Šneideraitė-Kacienė passed away in 1938, and a year later, her husband Shlomo Kacas also passed away. In the same village of Vydmantai, also lived Ester Kacienė's brother Leiba Šneideris, with his wife Cvija and three children. Most members of this large family became victims of genocide. However, three sisters, Feiga Kacaitė, Ita, Chana, brother Sholom, and the granddaughter of the older Kacas, Sara Buchaitė, survived. The intervention of the priest Juozas Gasiūnas played a crucial role: he baptized the Kacas children, and with his mediation, the farmers, neighbours, and acquaintances in this area became their godparents and rescuers. Documents with Lithuanian names and surnames were provided for the Kacas children. Feiga Kacaitė became Zita Povilionytė (later Sabaliauskienė), Ita – Teresė Povilionytė (later Lileikienė), Chana – Jadvyga Povilionytė, Sholom Kacas – Juozas Poviliūnas, and the granddaughter of the older Kacas, Sara Buchaitė, became Aldona Povilionytė.
Zita (Feiga) Povilionytė-Sabaliauskienė was saved by Stanislava and Stanislovas Burba, Teresa (Ita) Povilionytė-Lileikienė was saved by the family of Uršulė and Vladas Šleževičius, brother Juozas Šolomas was saved by the Gintalas family, and Jadvyga (Chana) Povilionytė was saved by Stasys and Juzė Adomavičius, who lived in the village of Šilai.
When rumours spread that the Kacas children were in hiding, their rescuers would transport them to their friends or acquaintances. After the war, the Kacas sisters lived with their rescuers for some time, maintaining friendly and warm relationships with them until the end of their lives.
In 2016, Stasys and Juzė Adomavičiai – the Rescuers of Chana Jadvyga Kacaitė-Povilionytė, were awarded the Life Saviours Cross.