A Tale of Hope, Faith and Forgiveness Edited by Zita Podany This book is a summary of Maria's life. She survived the Nazi labor and death camps that plagued most parts of Europe during World War II. She had to learn to cope with death at an early age. In a short period of time, she lost her father and three brothers as she and her mother clung to life and sanity in the insanity that surrounded them, from her father being dragged off from their home to the cruelty that permeated the labor and death camps. Their resilience, faith, hope, and sheer survival of will and spirit should serve as an inspiration and lesson for all.