What if a street could whisper secrets of courage and resilience? Here at the Mail Henriette Pizzoli, it does. Mail Henriette Pizzoli isn’t just a street in Romainville. It’s a testament to a young woman’s bravery in the face of unimaginable hardship during World War II. Henriette Pizzoli, born in 1920, lived a life intertwined with the tumultuous events of her time. Her father, Fernand Papillon, was a communist council member in Romainville. Henriette married and had a daughter, Huguette, but war tore her family apart. Her husband became a prisoner of war. Henriette found herself caught in a dangerous liaison, threatened and ultimately betrayed to the Gestapo. Her aunt and uncle, Gabrielle and Marcel Éthis, sheltered two escaped prisoners, Louis Thorez and Henri Le Gall. Henriette, fearing for her safety, asked them to stay at her home. This act of compassion led to their arrest. Henriette and her aunt were sent to the Romainville Fort, then to Auschwitz. Gabrielle died shortly after arriving. Henriette succumbed to typhus on May 16, 1943. Mail Henriette Pizzoli stands as a memorial to her and a reminder of the human cost of war. Her daughter, Huguette, survived, raised by Henriette’s parents. Years later, Huguette visited Auschwitz, a poignant journey to honor her mother’s memory. The whispers of Henriette’s courage echo here on this street, a tribute to her resilience and sacrifice.
Église Notre-Dame de l’Air
Beneath what appears to be a simple stone and wood structure lies a history interwoven with faith aviation and community.