Student nurse in Caen (Masse street, Calvados), missionary detached from Letot School now know as Espoir (French word for “hope”) school, Bayeux.
She was 22 in 1944. Lived in St Andre-sur-Orne, Calvados, France.Passed away on April 6th 2015.


This is a direct translation from a recorded interview, published in a magazine. No modifications have been made, even in style (beside Translator’s notes and the removal of graphic parts).
The goal of the interview was to get eyewitness testimony of the D-Day bombing.


Disclaimer:
Odette Bonfardin is my grandmother. I grew up in Normandy, where signs of Second World War are still visible everywhere. The war took my grandfather’s right leg and killed a lot of my family members.
I have always been listening to my grandmother war stories but never had the opportunity to hear her D-Day story. I actually discovered a bit more of it the day I read the magazine. But in the end...she always skips the D-Day. She prefers to tell us war stories either from the period before or after Caen was freed. She said from June 6th until July 20th, she was just avoiding bombs and taking care of wounded soldiers. Nothing else to say.


I am now publishing an English translation of her testimony because I believe her actions, her courage, and her hopes gave her the force save the lives of soldiers falling for our freedom.
I believe all great acts of bravery must be respected and never forgotten.


To those who lost their lives to free France,