On June 30, it will be one year since Dad went to Heaven for joining my Angel Sister and Mom, who died on January 27, 2015.
Brother Martin made this photo and together with brother Piet, they created a Calendar for 1983 which got printed with photos and information about the beautiful local nature.
He stayed there till Easter 1942.
Easter time was always the time (planting season I guess...) for changing location while in servitude.
There he got to know Mom, who was in servitude at the Geurts Homestead, just a couple of houses apart.
In August of 1941 they met for the very first time...
This big oak was the spot!
There was the beginning of a long and blissful relationship...
It shows so beautifully the entire area.
The beautiful fencing has been placed by: Pieter Jacob (Sjaak) Van den Munckhof (1896-1995 Horst, Limburg, The Netherlands)
He was a far relative, as there are numerous Van den Munckhof in Horst
~
Hail cross at the Gortmolen
In 1915, Gortmolens Hannes had this cross placed out of devotion and in the hope of being spared from natural disasters.
The terracotta corpus was bought in Italy in 1930.
MONUMENT OF PIETY NO. 9
~
There are several field crosses in my birth town!
The sign below the Corpus reads:
My Jesus Mercy
Photo from blogpost: Klein mysterie 557 – Christus' lendendoek (Small mystery 557 – Christ's loin cloth)
~
My eldest brother Martin, the photographer of the 1st photo, suggested that Mom & Dad's ashes would be dispersed of right here, at this historical spot.
So five of my six siblings met there on Holy Saturday and it was a very warm and meaningful gathering; however complying still to social distancing...
Only my younger sister did not join for whatever reason.
Wish I could have been there!
~
This made for a perfect Easter!
 |
See short video about Estate de Gortmeule: Jac Hanssen - De Gortmeule mien Landgoed
Related link:
Our Dining Room where we have a large format of Martin's photo hanging next to the cross from Pieter's Parents
About 200 m from my parents house is a field cross like this. What a nice idea to disperse the ashes on the place that they met.
ReplyDeleteDearest Ada,
DeleteYes, in both our Province of Limburg, there are lots of field crosses and they are a wonderful remain from our ancestors.
It surely was a nice idea for making their ashes end up where they met...
Hugs,
Mariette
Mariette, How you must miss your parents! Your many visits and adventures with them show how close you were. That oak tree surely is a magnificent one, and makes a beautiful and personal symbol for your life, family, and connections to your native country.
ReplyDelete--Jim
Dearest Jim,
DeleteThrough those many visits, numerous phone calls we made from the USA over the years, we both have peace of mind. We certainly did what we could and by supporting them several times for visiting us here in the USA we did the utmost. Our final visit was so memorable and that made me the only one of seven who really said her farewell to Dad.
This is good, the way it is and their souls remain close together with special memories forever.
Hugs,
Mariette
Hello dear Mariette!
ReplyDeleteSuch a lovely idea to disperse your beloved parent's ashes,at this beautiful place that they met.
My brother had dispersed my dad ashes near his home,at a lovely park with a lake,that he liked to go for a walk.
I wasn’t able to travel to Australia ,and feel so sad.Have a lovely day and a happy July! Stay safe! Hugs!
Dimi...
Dearest Dimi,
DeleteYes, it sure was a lovely idea the way they selected this spot.
The same is true for your Dad's ashes at the park where he loved and enjoyed his walks.
You and I understand the feeling for not being able to travel to a far away continent, but actually living within less then ten kilometers from the spot for gathering all together and not being present is weird.
Hugs,
Mariette
Buen recuerdo, para tus seres queridos. Es muy duro ver como te faltan tus padres.
ReplyDeleteEs preciosa la foto de ese árbol, me imagino que guardas el calendario como si se tratara de un gran tesoro.
Besos
Querida Antónia,
DeleteEsa foto es preciosa y tenemos una grande colgada en nuestro comedor, junto a la cruz de madera. Simplemente añadió el enlace de ese post a continuación donde se puede ver nuestro comedor...Ese calendario todavía está en mi poder, sí!
Abrazos,
Mariette
Special memories of your Dad. A big hug Mariette.
ReplyDeleteDearest Sami,
DeleteYes, they are and always remain inside our hearts!
Hugs,
Mariette
Dearest Agnieszka,
ReplyDeleteThank you!
Hugs,
Mariette
What a beautiful oak tree. The first photo by your brother is stunning! And that is a very special place where your parents met. It's a wonderful idea to disperse your parents' ashes there. Hugs to you as you remember your mom, and dad on his anniversary. xo
ReplyDeleteDearest Tamago,
DeleteYes, that photo sure IS stunning, that's why a poster size is hanging in our dining room. A meeting place for my Parents and that's where they both ended up now.
Fond memories stay forever with us!
Hugs,
Mariette
Liebe Mariette,
ReplyDeletedie Erinnerung bleibt.
Alles Liebe
Elisabeth
Liebe Elisabeth,
DeleteJa die bleibt für immer bis wir uns wieder sehen.
Eine Seele stirbt nie.
Lieber Gruß,
Mariette
It is good for them now to be there, together.
ReplyDeleteDearest Anne,
DeleteYes, you're right about that; forever together again at the starting point.
Hugs,
Mariette
Een speciale eik en plek. In gedachten was je erbij. Hoe komt zo'n grote eik nu aan de bijnaam 't struukske?
ReplyDeleteBeste Willy,
DeleteEen heel speciale plek en bijzondere eik.
Ja, denk dat die naam gegeven is na het planten toen ie nog klein was ruim een eeuw geleden.
Liefs,
Mariette
Kleine struukskes worden ook groot.
DeleteJa Willy, dat worden ze zeker!
DeleteDearest Mariette, what a very special post about your beloved parents! And how meaningful your siblings decision was to disperse their ashes on that same spot they had first met!
ReplyDeleteI can understand how much you would have liked to be present on that day!
Many hugs and best wishes for a happy July!
Dearest Marie-Anne,
DeleteThank you for your meaningful comment and yes this was a very special spot where their love story started.
Distance kept us away but in spirit we were there.
Hugs and happy Summer to you as well.
Mariette
What a lovely post my father's been gone a year and m
ReplyDeletei miss him so much
Dearest Jo-Anne,
DeleteThank you and yes, this is a way we always remember our Parents... it is so much part of life too.
Hugs,
Mariette
Ciao Mariette, buona giornata.
ReplyDeleteCaro Giancarlo,
DeleteGrazie e altrettanto.
Un abbraccio,
Mariette
Oh so sorry for this painful anniversary for you. How nice the ashes could be spread at such an important spot to your parents though!
ReplyDeleteDearest Mica,
DeleteNo, it was not at all a painful anniversary as we said our farewells in a proper manner and told Dad that he had the right to go at age 98.5. No regrets, we talked for hours and Dad was oh so happy!
Yes, this spot is historically correct for both of them.
Hugs,
Mariette
How special to place their ashes there where they met. I know you wish you could have been there, but you were there in spirit. And may I say, your dad had beautiful handwriting!
ReplyDeleteDearest Deborah,
DeleteYes, a very special place indeed.
Thank you for the compliment about Dad's handwriting. He wrote his life story all by hand and I certainly do treasure that!
Hugs,
Mariette
What a beautiful and wonderful tribute to your parents Mariette 💜💙
ReplyDeleteDearest Gracie,
DeleteThank you and it was such a special spot...
Hugs,
Mariette
May they rest in peace.
ReplyDeleteI am praying for your parents and your whole family.
God bless.
Dearest Victor,
DeleteThank you and it was rather emotional yesterday...
Tomorrow on my final flight home.
Hugs,
Mariette