Roosje Hagenaar (1880, Amsterdam) married Michiel Zegerius (1885, Utrecht) in 1910; they lived in Utrecht and later Haarlem. Roosje, possibly a teacher, and Michiel, a rag sorter, had no children but raised Jacob Groen, a distant relative born in 1916. In 1919 his name was changed to Gerrit Zegerius, and he grew up as their foster son, calling Michiel “father.” Gerrit worked as a wicker weaver. His mother Klaartje and half-sister Esther were later murdered in Auschwitz. On 25 August 1942, Roosje, Michiel, and Gerrit were arrested in Haarlem, deported via Westerbork, and murdered in Auschwitz. Gerrit was likely selected for forced labor during the Cosel transports, but did not survive. Roosje’s brother David and his family also perished in the Shoah.
