Duifje Peper was a daughter of Salomon Peper and Betje van Hessen. 20 June 1900 she married in Haarlem her cousin Simon Gaarkeuken, a son of Magiel Gaarkeuken and Grietje van Hessen. The couple had two children, namely Elisabeth in 1901, who died however as a baby of ten months old in 1901, and their son Michiel Simon, born in 1903.
Duifje's husband Simon Gaarkeuken passed away in Haarlem 3 March 1941 and the funeral records at the Jewish cemetery in Haarlem reveal that Simon Gaarkeuken was buried there.
Duifje lived widowed with her unmarried son Michiel Simon at Oude Raamstraat 11 in Haarlem. Mother Duifje and son Michiel had a luxury fruitstore and a barrow. They delivered in the "Queen neighborhood" in Haarlem. Duifje however was deported to Camp Westerbork 27 August 1942 and the next day, 28 August put on transport to Auschwitz. Upon arrival there 31 August 1942 she was immediately killed.
About the fate of her son Michiel Simon has nothing become known so far. A registration card of him excists in the file cabinet of the Jewish Council, with no further notes made on it. That might perhaps indicate that he never was in Camp Westerbork but what has really happened to him in fully unclear. He is missed in the Shoah.
website www.wiewaswie.nl, marriage Simon Gaarkeuken to Duifje Peper, the file cabinet of the Jewish Council, registration cards of Duifje Peper and Michiel Simon Gaarkeuken and an addition of a visitor of the website.