About the rescuer and the rescue story

Antanina was of Russian origin. She met Stanislovas when he was sent to Russia during the First World War and worked as a clerk in a prison in Kostroma. Their first son, Jurgis, was born there. Only a few years later did the family return to Lithuania and settle in the village of Kalnėnai.

She is remembered by her family as a very tidy, meticulous housekeeper — caring, sensitive, and an excellent cook. Even when visiting her children, she would always bring her own bedding to ensure perfect cleanliness. Antanina took care of daily household tasks so that life in hiding could be as safe and normal as possible. The Tallat-Kelpša home offered refuge not only to Dora Kaganaitė but also to Hona Mulman. Antanina’s attentiveness and quiet self-sacrifice helped everyone in hiding endure those difficult days.

The Tallat-Kelpša surname traces its roots to Tatar warriors who came to Lithuania during the reign of Grand Duke Vytautas. Today, many people bearing the Tallat-Kelpša name live across Lithuania, though their exact family ties are not always known. On August 4, 1997, Antanina, together with Agota, Stanislovas, and Jurgis, was recognized as Righteous Among the Nations.