A Search for a Legacy with Judy Frumin

Judy Frumin’s search for her grandmother’s grave is not just about finding a headstone—it’s about understanding the fragments of her family’s history that have been lost to time.

A Forgotten Grave and a Fragmented Past

When Judy last visited East Ham Cemetery, it was a place of quiet reflection, but the landscape has changed over the years. A new housing development has sprung up, but the gravestones remain a reminder of Hackney’s long history. As Judy walks through the cemetery, the rain soaking her jacket, she reflects on the many untold stories of the people buried there—stories of survival, migration, and loss.

I didn’t know this cemetery existed,

Judy

Judy says softly, gazing at the rows of graves. The discovery of her grandmother’s final resting place was a revelation, one that had been hidden for decades. The search itself—following a small card with coordinates from her Aunt Leah—felt like a journey through time, piecing together a puzzle of family history scattered across Hackney and beyond.

Judy’s grandmother, Martha, had escaped Nazi-occupied Europe, seeking safety in England only to die young in 1944.

The Significance of the Stone

After an arduous search, Judy finally located Martha’s grave, its granite slab tilted and weathered with time. It’s a humble marker, but it stands as a testament to Martha’s life and the challenges she overcame.

I never expected this,

Judy

Judy says, kneeling next to the stone.

Martha’s grave is slipping into the earth, but here it is, still a part of the past I didn’t even know I was looking for.

Judy

The Power of Memory

As Judy places a stone on the grave—a traditional Jewish custom—she reflects on the deep connections between memory and legacy. The act of placing the stone is not just an acknowledgement of Martha’s life; it’s a way of keeping her spirit alive, ensuring she is never forgotten.

The modest grave, like so many others in the cemetery, tells a story

Judy observes, reflecting on the simplicity of the gravesite. Yet, the memory of those who have passed lives on in the stories they leave behind.

Ever-changing Hackney

East Ham Cemetery may have changed, but Hackney itself is also in constant flux. The same sense of continuity Judy finds in the cemetery is mirrored in the community around her. From the Patel family’s corner shop to the stories of resilience, strength and courage passed down through generations, Hackney’s layers of history persist—even as the neighbourhood around them changes.

Stories—whether they are of loss, love,  happiness, survival or community—are what keep us connected to the past.

Listen to the full series of The Hackney and Newham History Social Podcast wherever you get your podcasts or listen here The Hackney and Newham History Social Club | Immediate Theatre to hear the full story.