My Great Grandma Ida as a Great Grandpa Izzy with Ida 

young woman.

At the turn of the century, Ida Gross was living in New York City, the eldest of eleven children when her maternal grandmother died. Her mother was "frum" or religiously observant in the Orthodox Jewish tradition.  She had married a devout, studious and religious man, though she was not raised with similar observance. 

Her father had founded a thriving department store and the family was wealthy when her mother died. However, my great, great grandmother was so bereaved that she refused any inheritance, announcing that money was of little importance to her, as it was only her late mother that she craved.  Soon, my great, great grandfather remarried and the sizable inheritance went to his new wife and her children. Ida and her 10 siblings were left destitute.

As the eldest, Ida was called upon to help look after her younger siblings. Additionally, her mother insisted she quit school and find work as there was little money coming in.  Ida found work in a lace factory sweatshop on the lower east side. The work was difficult, tedious and exhausting, her eyes fixed on the tiny crochet needles she used to repair the delicate, white lace. She was determined to, one day, be freed of the exhausting servitude and poverty she suffered.