First wife of Wilhelm Schenker, thus Heinrich's sister-in-law; mother of Wilma. Nothing is known of Dodi’s family history; however, in a letter of 1938, Wilhelm refers to Jetty Bednař as “our sister-in-law,” and since Jetty first appears in Heinrich Schenker’s diary in 1915, and is a regular presence there from then on, frequently in connection with Dodi, it is likely Dodi and Jetty were sisters. Their maiden names are unknown.

Children and relationships

Before his first marriage (date unknown), Wilhelm evidently formed a close attachment to a Mrs. Schimatowitsch who, around 1879, had a son, Tonschl (father unknown), who himself in 1907 and 1911 had sons Tonerl and Karli (mother unknown). While precise chronology is unclear, Dodi and Wilhelm took the two young boys into their home and helped educate them and seek careers for them.

Wilhelm and Dodi had, so far is known, just one child: Wilma, born May c.27, 1915. She is named only once in Heinrich’s diary, on May 28, 1917: Wilhelm's name day [William of Acquitaine died May 28, 812] is celebrated, at the same time as that of little Wilma, in keeping with the custom of the village and the house, with personal congratulations, cakes, and the like. Wilma was given flowers by her little brothers.

Nothing further is heard of Wilma, though in 1918 Heinrich hears from the parents that “the children” (presumably Tonerl, Karli, and Wilma) have mumps (OJ 5/38, [1], January 24, 1918).

Dodi and Wilhelm

Neither Dodi nor Wilhelm appears in Heinrich’s diary before 1915. The couple took Julia Schenker, who had been living in Vienna, into their home in Kautzen from February 1915 and cared for her until her death on December 20, 1917, during which Dodi reported increasingly erratic behavior on Julia’s part (perhaps signs of dementia). After Julia’s death, there was dissension among family and friends as to whether she had been properly cared for at that time. From 1916 for several years, Dodi supplied Jeanette with butter, eggs, and other foodstuffs, which were scarce in Vienna (as too did Sophie Guttmann).

In addition to the Bednař family. Dodi and Wilhelm also used Mr. and Mrs. Grueber, who lived in Vienna, as intermediaries to Heinrich and Jeanette, and may have stayed at their address.

Between 1920 and 1923 there is no word of Dodi in Heinrich’s diary. Then on June 3, 1923 Albin Bednař snr reported in person to Heinrich and Jeanette “Dodi’s serious illness” and on June 10 her death.

Correspondence

Heinrich’s diary records twenty-four letters and postcards received from Dodi during 1915–20, and many written to her. None of these are known to survive, but among the letters from Heinrich and Jeanette to Wilhelm (OJ 5/38) are paragraphs addressed directly to her.

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