You have read my blog posts about Pieter's older brothers being deployed in Indonesia for several years.
Pieter's Mom was the loyal writer and you have seen one photo where she is penning a letter...
This photo where she is in DEEP Thoughts while penning a letter...
She also enclosed news paper clippings to send along with the letter, as well as some money...
Then, scooping up the leftover clippings, for throwing them into the stove - she ACCIDENTALLY grabbed her leather wallet instead!
So Pieter recalls this incident very vividly. The bulging leather wallet inside the flames and by the time they tried to rescue it, with something - it was too late.
Engulfed in flames, wallet and household money went up in smoke...
SAD!
~
My Dear Mother-In-Law has been a loyal letter writer.
Till her death on November 21, 1989 she almost weekly wrote us a letter, just as I've done all those years.
She was 94.5 years old and a colon cancer survivor.
Below is her final letter to her family:
Zij die ik teleurstelde
Vergeef mij
Zij die mij teleurstelde is het vergeven
Zij die mij zoo dierbaar waren help mij door uw gebed
Dat mijn heengaan een blijde opgang moge zijn naar God.
Ik dank allen die mijn leven zoo mooi maakten.
Blijf elkaar genegen.
Moge mijn ziel met u in vrede rusten
Verder hoop ik dat de familie band sterk moogt bewaren.
Dit is mijn laatste wens, Moeder
She also enclosed news paper clippings to send along with the letter, as well as some money...
Then, scooping up the leftover clippings, for throwing them into the stove - she ACCIDENTALLY grabbed her leather wallet instead!
So Pieter recalls this incident very vividly. The bulging leather wallet inside the flames and by the time they tried to rescue it, with something - it was too late.
SAD!
My Dear Mother-In-Law has been a loyal letter writer.
Till her death on November 21, 1989 she almost weekly wrote us a letter, just as I've done all those years.
She was 94.5 years old and a colon cancer survivor.
Below is her final letter to her family:
Vergeef mij
Zij die mij teleurstelde is het vergeven
Zij die mij zoo dierbaar waren help mij door uw gebed
Dat mijn heengaan een blijde opgang moge zijn naar God.
Ik dank allen die mijn leven zoo mooi maakten.
Blijf elkaar genegen.
Moge mijn ziel met u in vrede rusten
Verder hoop ik dat de familie band sterk moogt bewaren.
Dit is mijn laatste wens, Moeder
~
The ones I let down
Forgive me
Those who let me down are forgiven
Those who loved me so much help me through your prayer
That my passing may be a happy onset to God.
I thank all who made my life so beautiful.
Keep affection for each other.
May my soul rest with you in peace
Further I hope that the family bond will be kept strong.
This is my last wish, Mother
My Mother-in-law also was very active for decades in the Elderly
Related posts:The ones I let down
Forgive me
Those who let me down are forgiven
Those who loved me so much help me through your prayer
That my passing may be a happy onset to God.
I thank all who made my life so beautiful.
Keep affection for each other.
May my soul rest with you in peace
Further I hope that the family bond will be kept strong.
This is my last wish, Mother
My Mother-in-law also was very active for decades in the Elderly
1948 Gevaphone Record with Young Pieter Playing his Accordion for his Marine Brother | previous post
72 Years Later... Gevaphone Spoken Letters to Marine Brother Employed Overseas | previous post
1948 Gevaphone Record with Young Pieter Playing his Accordion for Brother in Uniform | previous post
72 Years Later... Gevaphone Spoken Letters to Military Brother Employed Overseas | previous post
Dearest MAriette,
ReplyDeletethank you for sharing those wonderful and really private words from your dear Mother in Law!
Wishing you and Pieter a lovely rest of the week!
Love and hugs, Claudia xo
Dearest Claudia,
DeleteThere was nothing private about her words. She was for more than 25 years a true Leader for the Elderly in my home town and for that she got rewarded with a Royal Pin! Her letter was addressed to ALL...
Hugs,
Mariette
Liebe Mariette,
ReplyDeleteherzlichen Dank und liebe Grüße
Elisabeth
Liebe Elisabeth,
DeleteDanke sehr und auch alles Liebe,
Mariette
What a most beautiful last letter to the family. She obviously knew she didn't have long to live.
ReplyDeletexxx
Dearest Sami,
DeleteThat indeed was a meaningful letter to her family and all whom she interacted with as longtime leader for the Elderly.
This handwriting is done previous, not in her final stage...
Hugs,
Mariette
Hello Mariette, Wise words indeed, and not just for those at the end of life. I think people would be much happier if they adopt this philosophy at a young age, as I am sure that Pieter's mother did.
ReplyDeleteThe burnt wallet reminds me of the story of (the unsinkable) Molly Brown. Her mining husband made a fortune and hid it in the unused summer stove, which was lit however, to the loss of the fortune. Luckily, they made much more, and Molly became the toast of Europe and the queen of Denver society.
--Jim
Dearest Jim,
DeleteYes, you are right, Pieter's Mom lived by them for all those decades that she was a widow but a very active Leader for the local Elderly for which she got a royal recognition.
Never had heard this Molly Brown story but it is quite interesting, at least the true story.
Guess a lot more of such disasters. where money went up in flames, have happened...
Hugs,
Mariette
My goodness, what a beautiful letter she wrote! She must have been a very special woman, someone to cherish, a wonderful role model.
ReplyDeleteDearest Kim,
DeleteThank you and yes, you are right, she was a true role model and a great leader for some 25 years for the Elderly.
She got a royal recognition for that and well earned.
Hugs,
Mariette
Oh my gosh, wallet in flames! I didn't expect that coming...such a disaster indeed!
ReplyDeleteI love Pieter's mom's handwriting. And this is such a touching, beautiful letter. This must be a treasure for all her family. xo
Dearest Tamago,
DeleteFor the moment it sure was a shocking disaster but life goes on...
So glad that Pieter captured her soft face while being pensive and writing to her two eldest sons.
She sure had a beautiful handwriting and the letter is touching indeed.
Hugs,
Mariette
Lovely memory!
ReplyDeleteDearest Anne,
DeleteYes, a truly lovely memory, except for the burned wallet with money...
Hugs,
Mariette
Dearest Agnes,
ReplyDeleteYes they truly are very profound and meaningful and the memories are priceless.
Glad Pieter captured it on photo...
Hugs,
Mariette
Wat een mooie ontroerende laatste brief van je schoonmoeder. Mooie foto van haar. Fijne dag,
ReplyDeleteBeste Willy,
DeleteJa, een heel waardevolle brief die ze toch wel langer van tevoren heeft geschreven.
Wij hebben haar brief van daags voor het overlijden en dat handschrift is verschillend.
Ben heel blij dat Pieter haar zo mooi heeft vastgelegd, in gedachten verzonken bij haar twee jongens in Indië, aan wie ze trouw al die jaren schreef en ook knipsels van thuis stuurde...
Liefs,
Mariette
Meaningful and touching letter. My prayers are with you....
ReplyDeleteDearest Jyothisethu,
DeleteVery meaningful indeed and something to cherish.
We've long ago dealt with her departure but she will be remembered forever.
Hugs,
Mariette
What a treasure to leave for your loved ones...and my she had beautiful handwriting !
ReplyDeleteDearest Janey,
DeleteThank you and it sure is a treasure that will make history this way.
At that time, handwriting was a lot more practiced at school I think and it was demanded that you managed.
Hugs,
Mariette
Oh, the household money and good leather wallet, how sad for the family on that day! I can imagine how terrible your mother-in-law felt. The lost art of letter writing! This year I noticed also a decrease in Christmas cards … all do to electronic greetings, which to anyone over 30 is not a substitute. But alas, things continue to change with the maturity of a new generation, which is always the way.
ReplyDeleteDearest Debbie,
DeleteYes, that was a tragedy but there was nothing what they could do about it...
My Mother-in-law managed to write beautiful and back then, everything was hand written.
With the very high mailing cost and also the cost of paper (cards) it is quite economical for using electronic spoken greetings or video, whatever. That also is more eco friendly!
Hugs,
Mariette
Sono ricordi che resteranno sempre nella nostra memoria.
ReplyDeleteUn sereno fine settimana per te.
Caro Giancarlo,
DeleteSì, tali ricordi durerà per sempre e fanno la storia.
Un abbraccio,
Mariette
Dear Mariette - what a lovely collection of memories about Pieters's mother.
ReplyDeleteMy MiL too used to write to us each and every week when we lived in Scotland - sadly it is now a dying art.
I suspect the fact that Pieter still remembers so clearly the ocassion when the leather wallet burnt in the fire was partly due to the fact that loosing the families budget for food etc probably caused all the family much distress.
Dearest Rosemary,
DeleteYes my Mother-in-law was an excellent letter writer and her last letter to us she wrote the day before she died...
Pieter does remember it vividly as the sight of that bulging walles was sheer horror and rescue too late. Another loss, one of so many like the depression years struggle, then part of their home destroyed end of WWII while they were evacuated and all their greenhouses flattened... There always has been a new start and Pieter's family was a good example of perseverance!
Hugs,
Mariette