Why was Aunt Gypi Adopted?

Why was Aunt Gypi Adopted?

   Gypi's birth father was Dr. Josef Tessely von Marsheil, a doctor for the 3rd infantry regiment in the k. u. k. army in Reichenau, Austria.  He and Colonel (Oberst) Colnago were long time best friends in the military. The colonel already had eight children, six girls and two boys!

Bianca (my grandmother) was the same age as Gypi and they were best friends.  Both girls were in the same class at the exclusive boarding school for officers daughters in Hernals, near Vienna.   On Sept 3, 1914 Gypi's father Josef was killed in action in WWI.  Gypi was 12.  Her brother Arnold was attending a military boys school in Graz.  Their newly widowed mother Camilla (born Herzl) then moved to Graz and probably could not care for both children. Camilla lived until 1959.

The Colnago family said "If we can feed six children, then there is room for a seventh!" [-Helmut].  So they adopted Gypi and she became one of the Colnago sisters.  In 1922 Gypi's marriage announcement with Hans Slapa read "Vera Slapa, born Tessely-Marsheil-Colnago."   She was very much a Colnago!

Gypi was a very heavy chain smoker.  Helmut says he used to roll her cigarettes for her. 

The Colnago sisters are (in order) Aglaia, Cia, Erna, Bianca, Gypi, Veronika, and Nora.  Aglaia died at the age of 6.

Gypi and Bianca Böhm with Sacher Torten in Reichenau, Austria 1922

Here is the reference for Gypi's father, 

Dr. Josef Tessely von Marsheil

Österreichische Zeitschrift für praktische Heilkunde, Volume 5 Page 31

Below is the girls boarding school in Hernals.  At the bottom of the photo you can see the church Kalvarienkirche.  Compare the following old photo where the steeple is also visible.

Gypi and Bianca were 12 years old when Josef was killed in action in WWI.  They were attending the "Erziehungsinstitut für offizierstöchter" Hernals, Vienna, Kalvarienberggasse 28, 1170 Wien.
This is their school, now called "Bundesschulen."  [Google Maps]

Below you can see the church steeple of the Kalvarienkirche circa 1900.  It still looks the same today.

Inside the courtyard of the boarding school for officers daughters.
Hernals, Vienna, circa 1900.  The tower in back is the Kalvarienkirche.
[Austrian National Archives]

Below is the wedding announcement "Vera Slapa, born Tessely-Marsheil-Colnago."  She was adopted, but she wanted to be a born Colnago.

Wedding Announcement for Hans Slapa and Gypi (Vera/Wera)
"Vera Slapa, born Tessely-Marsheil-Colnago."  
Reichenau, May 1922.

Gypi and Bianca were close friends for life.  Their husbands got apartments in Vienna only a few blocks away from each other in 1922.  Bianca and Hans lived ar Reischachstraße 3 and Gypi and Hans lived at Henslerstraße 3.  Their kids, Peter, Erna, and Erich were also friends for life.  Here is the Google Map.

Gypi's and Bianca's apartments in Vienna were
only a few blocks away. 

In their wedding photos, Gypi and Bianca wore identical outfits.

Bianca and Franz (on the left) and Hans and Gypi (right).
Note how they wore identical outfits. Reichenau, May 1922.

The photo below is taken at Rax/Reichenau about 1938.  Most of the Colnago sisters are here, with the next generation of children:  Peter, Bäba (Erna), Erich and Maria.

Bianca, Peter, Gypi, Karl, Bäba, Erich, Erna, Hans, Gigi, Nora.
The child is Maria Colnago, about 6 years old. Circa 1938, Probably at Rax/Reichenau.

Gypi, Erich and Hans Slapa, Vienna, circa 1928.

Wedding photo of Johannes Slapa and Wera (Gypi) Tessely-Marsheil, May, 1922 in Vienna, Austria

Hans, Gypi and Erich Slapa, Vienna, circa 1928.  Erich was born in 1923.

Wera "Gypi" Tessely- Marsheil and her husband Johannes "Hans" Slapa.
SITTING: Peter Böhm, Erich Slapa, Erna Böhm, Cia Colnago. Slapa's apartment, Henslerstraße 3. Vienna, 1929

Timeline from MyHeritage.com

Thanks to Friedi, Kitty and Christine for the photos, and Helmut for the details.