Holocaust survivor Irene Miller stopped in studio to tell her story, ahead of Thursday’s event at Viterbo University. 

Miller tells her tale of resilience that defies imagination, beginning when she was 6 years old, her family fleeing the Germans to Warsaw for the "safety" of the Soviet Union. What they found instead was a frozen exile in Siberian labor camps and a desperate fight against starvation in Uzbekistan.

This isn't just a history lesson; it is a conversation about the "chutzpah," as Miller tells it, it takes to survive when everything — and everyone — is taken from you.

• The frozen forest: Hear Miller describe Siberian winters so cold that birds froze to the trees, and the wooden shacks where families huddled for warmth.
• Survival on "Boiled grass:" Miller recounts the near-starvation in Uzbekistan where her family was forced to eat boiled leaves and onions to stay alive.
• A legacy of loss: Out of an extended family of over 100 people, Miller was the only one to survive the "graveyard" that Poland had become.
• A message for 2026: At 93 years old, Miller shares her candid perspective on the "hate and divisiveness" she sees today and why she still believes in the "goodness of every baby."

Miller was joined by Holocaust educator Darryle Clott, who asked, "How is it possible that after those horrible things, you are still positive?" 

Miller’s answer to that question is something every person needs to hear.

Event Details: Miller will speak at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Viterbo Fine Arts Center. The event is free and open to the public. Guests should plan to arrive at 6:30 p.m. to get a seat.