Ilse Brendel Kahn was born as second daughter of Berthold and Selma Kahn on December 25, 1922 in Bischofsheim at Spelzengasse 47. She grew up with her two sisters in the family home of her father, who ran a butcher's shop.

From 1929 to 1933, she attended elementary school in Bischofsheim, then the Jewish district school in Mainz. In 1935, she transferred to the day school of the Reformed synagogue in Mainz. At this school, Jewish teachers who had been removed from the state school service taught Jewish pupils who were marginalized and bullied at state schools.

In 1937, the family was forced to sell their house and business at Spelzengasse 47. They first moved to Schulstraße in Mainz, and from October 30, 1937 to Adam-Karrillon-Straße 52. In December 1938, the family fled to Souleuvre in Luxembourg, where Berthold Kahn looking-ahead had bought a house at Rue d'Esch 21. Her sister Hilde had only been granted a transit visa and had to leave Luxembourg as quickly as possible. Ilse decided to follow her sister and go to England on an Au-pair program in January 1939. 

She probably married Rolf Löwenthal there in 1943, who later called himself Rolf Low. Their daughter Ruth Ellen was born in 1946.

In 1951, Ilse emigrated to the USA with her family, her parents and younger sister Rose. The marriage apparently broke up there.

In 1957, she married her second husband Leonard Sharlet and had two sons with him, Philip Eric and John. 

From 1992, she lived in Pembroke Pines, Florida/USA, where her sister Hilde also lived. In 1991, they both visited their home town of Bischofsheim at the invitation of the community. 

Ilse Sharlet passed away on December 25, 2012, on her 91st birthday. She is buried at Vista Memorial Gardens, Miami Lakes, Miami-Dade County, Florida/USA.

(Mechthild Rühl)