Marie Bouffa

Marie Rachel Eudoxie Bouffa (Comblain-au-Pont, 19 January 1882 – Ravensbrück, 1 February 1945) was a member of the Belgian resistance during World War II and recognized as Righteous Among the Nations.

Biography Marie Rachel Bouffa was the daughter of Nicolas Joseph Adolphe and Clarisse Catherine Josèphe Antoine.

In 1942, single and 58 years old, Bouffa owned and operated a guest house called "la Ferme de la Chapelle" (The Farm of the chapel), which was a part of her large estate in Belgium. On September 15 of that year, an emissary was sent by the command of Belgium's Secret Army to her community, La Reid, near Liege, to set up a local group to resist the occupying German forces. Bouffa, who was not Jewish, became the first member on 1 December 1942.

Bouffa helped a variety of people fleeing oppression. She was known to shelter resistance fighters, those fleeing compulsory labor, escaped prisoners and downed Allied airmen, all being hunted down by the enemy. In addition to providing a safe hiding place, she provided false documents and helped identify an escape route. She also distributed works by the underground press, transmitted military intelligence and stored arms and ammunition.

Recognition On 30 July 2008 Yad Vashem recognized her as "Eudoxie Bouffa" as Righteous Among the Nations, which is recognition given to "non-Jews who took great risks to save Jews during the Holocaust."