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Here I would love to share with you our travels and adventures as international mushroom consultants. MEMOIRS about husband Pieter Vedder, who was a SCIENTIFIC PIONEER in Mushroom Cultivation Education. His practical handbook is in 9 languages and is called the MUSHROOM BIBLE: https://mariettesbacktobasics.blogspot.com/2020/08/modern-mushroom-growing-2020-harvesting.html
Showing posts with label Heeroom. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Heeroom. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 26, 2023

In Memory of my BEST Role Model EVER

 On July 27 of 1969, I lost one of my most favorite people...
Heeroom or Lord Uncle as we respectfully called him.
In my previous post I did already introduce him: {March 14, Written Life Message for me by my Favorite Great-Uncle}
At the age of twelve, he began his gymnastic studies on September 27, 1915 in the mission house Saint Willibrord in Uden. Just two months after he'd lost his Dad who passed away at age 47...
On September 8, 1923, he was dressed as a novice in the mission house Saint Lambertus in Helvoirt. There he also took his first Vows on September 8, 1925. After the novitiate and philosophy, he left for Teteringen in 1926, to the mission house Saint Francis Xavier for the four years of theology. He took the Eternal Vows on September 8, 1928. He was ordained priest by Monsignor Petrus Hopmans, bishop of Breda on February 3, 1929.
On October 12 of that year he left for Rome for higher studies at the Gregoriana and obtained the doctorate in canon law in two years. Back in Teteringen on July 29, 1931, he began teaching morality and law. Overworked, he had to give up his teaching post after four years. He goes to seek peace in Soesterberg, first as an assistant in the parish of Hamersveld. Later he was able to teach Greek.
Father Jan Nelissen on his horse in Timor, Indonesia
(NVC March 23) In the Limburg Illustration of 1929 there was this photo of neomist Nelissen with his family. To the left of mother Nelissen is Dean Creemers. To the right of Father Nelissen (with white choir shirt) chaplain Leesens can still be seen.
Limburger Koerier, April 4, 1929 (Limburger Courier)
Horst,—First Mass. On Easter Day, March 31, the First Mass was celebrated here in the parish Church of St. Lambertus by your Reverence Father J. Nelissen. Preceded by the harmony (orchestration), which for the first time helped to grace such a feast, the newly ordained priest was picked up at the presbytery by brides, shepherds and the clergy of the parish, including Mgr. Hoogers, Ap. Prefect in China, who is currently staying here. The fest ceremony was held by Father v.d. Laar from the Mission House in Uden. After the solemn high mass, the youthful priest was led with the same procession to the parental home, where an appropriate verse was said by one of the brides, after which the neomist addressed a word of thanks to all and gave his first priestly blessing.
Heeroom with family on March 31, 1929 when he did his first Holy Mass in his home town of Horst.
Second row from top his older brother Handrie is seen next to him and his Mother, widow since Heeroom was 12 (my Dad's maternal Grandmother wears a lace toer or poffer), and another Priest. Dad's eldest sister (as a bride) and Dad's Mom, sister from Heeroom. Dad's first cousin Piet Poels to the right with his wooden leg.
Heeroom is holding his hands on the shoulder of Dad's younger sister Nel (as a bride) and the little one next to her is Dien, another of Dad's first cousin I guess.
Seated left to right is Dad's younger brother Jeu and first cousin Jan Poels, Hermans, my Dad with his folded hands, Dad's younger brother Jack and first cousin Nel Poels.
Standing in back is Aunt Anna & Uncle Lei Nelissen, Aunt Ciska (wife of Uncle Handrie), Aunt Bertha (Nelissen), Aunt Anna (Nelissen), Uncle Louis, Dad's Father, Uncle Leonards & Aunt Marie (Nelissen).
September 20, 1938 departure to Timor, Indonesia as a missionary
In memory of my departure to the Mission of Timor
September 1938
P. Jan Nelissen S.V.D. (Society of the Divine Word).
Farewell of all Steyler Missionaries Autumn 1938 as they're sent off into their Mission
Heeroom is 2nd row from bottom, 14th
All names being mentioned here from bottom up and from left to right.
Mooi Limburg 24 September, 1938
Beautiful Limburg published it on September 24, 1938:
Two Missionaries from Horst left this month for their Mission station on the small Sunda Islands. Above the Reverend Father Vostermans S.V.D.; below the Reverend Father Dr. J. Nelissen S.V.D. left for Timor (Indonesia) on September 20.
Yes, on September 20, 1938 it was departure from Antwerp, Belgium on the 'Coburg' a freight ship, for Timor, Indonesia.
He ended up in the station of Lahoeroes. 
After the invasion of the Japanese, all Dutch missionaries from Timor were interned on May 24, 1942 in Atambua and transferred to a camp at Makassar on Sulawesi in early September.
They were first able to return to Timor on November 18, 1945—3.5 years later...
Het Geheugen ←click link
No. 5: Cemetery under the mango (Kali Bodjo January 1945).
After the dysentery epidemic.

Found in a blog post, written by Father Jan Van Zeeland SVD this:
Father Jan Nelissen SVD writes on October 30, 1945: "In the cemetery of Kali Bodjo, under a mango tree, are buried fathers Jacob de Bruin, Henk Greuter, Antoon Hinke, Willem Martens, Leo van Well and brother Crispinus de Wilde".
Het Geheugen ←click link
No. 6: Entrance in our barack of block IV in Kali Bodjo: a bamboo construction, with lines of laundry inside: museon omniversum ←click link
No. 10: 2 Baracks in Kali Bodjo. Little street between block 5 and 6. February 1945: museon omniversum ←click link
Father Jan Nelissen to the right in 1947 in Lahoeroes, Timor/Indonesia

Jan Nelissen arrives on leave in The Netherlands on March 24, 1948 and leaves for Timor on April 27, 1949 from Rotterdam with the passenger ship m.s. 'Sibajak'.
Meanwhile he did marry my Parents on Saturday, February 26, 1949. 
Second departure to Timor on April 21, 1949

Jan Nelissen did not only work in ordinary soul care. He participated in the administration of the region and from 1957 was spiritual leader of the minor seminary of Lalian. 
It is currently impossible to determine which mission stations he had due to a lack of data. In any case, he was pastor in Kupang from 1962 to 1966. Together with Father Cor Kooy, also from Timor, Jan Nelissen lands at Schiphol on November 30, 1962.
That is when he wrote Life Message for me in my poetry album on March 14, 1963.

In an informative Pdf by Van Klinken The Making of Middle Indonesia: ←(click on link) I found the following on page 211:
'If some time I were to tell you to kill the Catholic priest would you do it?³
³ Interview with Eleanor Toma, Buraen, 21 June 2009. This could refer to the then 65 year old SVD priest Johann Nelissen.

The above is quite shocking to read!
July 27, 1969 in Manila, Philippines
Father Dr. Sjang Nelissen SVD

Petrus Johannes Hubertus Nelissen was born in Horst 11 June 1903. After studying in Uden, Helvoirt and Teteringen, he was ordained a priest on 3 February 1929. Study in canon law in Rome complemented his education. As a professor in Teteringen he trained missionaries, but he asked too much of his strength and was only able to fulfill that function for four years. In 1938 he left for Indonesia and was a missionary in Timor until his death; in all kinds of positions — pastor, spiritual director at the minor seminary, leader in the Timor region, advisor to several bishops — he gave his best efforts. The last work that called him to Manila was also for the mission, which he served with all his strength, meticulousness, devotion to duty, and priestly devotion.

We pray that the Lord may lead this quiet worker, who did not allow himself rest, to find peace in His Kingdom.

And then suddenly this working life comes to an end.
At the request of the General Chapter, Jan left for the Philippines as a member of the Legal Committee to prepare a new mission statute. He arrived in Tagatay, 60 km from Manila, on July 12. He did not look well and complained about pain in the kidney area. He was taken to Lourdes Hospital in Manila, a hospital of our Blue Sisters (SSpS). It was not possible to remove a large stone by natural means.
Surgery was necessary: a kidney did not work or hardly worked because of stones. On Saturday, July 27, 1969, the day he was to be operated on, he died suddenly. "Because his kidneys were no longer working properly, the whole body was gradually poisoned and his heart, which was already not strong, could no longer process it" (Father Wim Vergoossen S.V.D, SVD-niews nr. 235, p. 9).
"I was standing next to his bed in the last moments and he could only shout twice: "Oh, my God" and then a little later: "Pray for me". 
He died at ten o'clock in the morning. 
Later we heard that Father Nelissen had died of pulmonary embolism (Letter from Father Jos Diaz Viera S.V.D.).
Because it was Saturday, he was being buried the same day on the cemetery of our Mission House in Manila. On Sunday there were 8 Masses in that Church!
In the Seminary chapel with the sisters from the island of Flores/Indonesia, priest and Dutch Ambassador family
Dad showed me these photos in 2019 with text on back, explaining.
Coffin still open and Florinese sisters, Father and Family of Dutch Ambassador gave him the last salute...
On the way to the cemetery and the celebrant was me... (wish he'd filled his name!).
At the cemetery Christ the King, Manila
Before the tomb was closed.
A family of the Dutch Ambassador in Manila was there.

R.I.P.
ONE DAY WE WILL MEET AGAIN!

With lots of respect, your great–niece 💞


Related links:
{My OPA - GRANDDADDY} | Previous post by me also showing things from Heeroom that I still keep!

Tuesday, February 21, 2023

Mom & Dad's Trio of Crucifix with Corpus and Plaques with Red Copper Relief Statues

 When I did fly solo to The Netherlands—one last time in June of 2022, it was for a very special reason.
Bringing home some treasures from their estate in Limburg...
Mom & Dad's Trio of Crucifix with Corpus and Plaques with red Copper Relief Statues on oak, now hangs above our bed...
Dad's Maternal Uncle — Heeroom blessed the marriage of Mom & Dad but also this special trio.
It hung above their bed till the very end—now it resides in our home in the USA.
My photo seen hanging to the right here below—also came home...
This photo I took on February 21, 2014 when we flew to The Netherlands for Mom's 90th Birthday and Mom & Dad's 65th Wedding Anniversary.
That was the LAST time I got to see Mom alive... see post below about Mom's Hand Knitted Bedspread as Window Display.

Related link:
Limburg — The Emotional Part | previous post by me

Saturday, November 5, 2022

Wearing Mom's Wedding Dress to Church

 One of the treasures I did bring home from Limburg was Mom's wedding dress!
October 15, I wore it to Mass after I had it dry cleaned at Presstine Cleaners in Atlanta.
The dress was made out of a nice rayon georgette and I wear my black patent Escada sandals.
The dress originally came with train.
Mom's bridal bouquet looks like she was holding white stock or Matthiola Incana—also very fragrant!
In Dutch white stock is witte violieren...
Dad with a hat in his hand and gloves...
The day of the beginning of a Blissful Relationship—blessed by Dad's maternal Uncle—Heeroom.
Mom and Dad more up close.
Mom sure had lovely hair here and wearing her golden cross on a short necklace.
Those were the days of hats and Mom has worn many hats, especially when going to Church.
Her dress with train got later altered to a shorter version.
Can't recall if she wore it to certain events...
Dad had no camera of his own in the early years!
Photo taken after Mass by a friend.
Pieter wearing his silk Burberry suit that I also did bring back from Limburg...
The side seams of the top were let out by my sister, some 3 inches (7.5 cm). The dress is too wide for me now. 
At home one more WeFie in bright daylight...
Pieter wearing his Escada silk elephant tie.
This photo is from March 8, 1968 when I wore the dress with boots in Horst, Limburg...
Funny, I was 17, and above I am 71... just reversed numbers.
But I'm the only of 3 daughters that still can wear Mom's small sized dress!

Guess Mom was smiling down from heaven to see her wedding dress go to Church once more...
Not in white
It used to be unthinkable to buy a dress for one day. That only happened at court. 
Well into the twentieth century many brides married in black.
Even Pieter's late wife Thea did...
In front of the Church—also with hat and gloves in hand...
Don't understand where she left her gorgeous bridal bouquet.
Pieter with the bridal bouquet, full of orchids...
In 1983, when it was the rage to wear such black jackets—Pieter's 19 year old adopted daughter Liz, begged for the jacket of his wedding suit and Pieter gave in...
A handsome groom that stayed with Thea for 27 years—living like brother and sister...
BUT thanks to that, he wrote the mushroom bible and helped thousands to make a better living!
Everything has a reason in life and we both are grateful that God made us meet 53 years ago and we are happily married for a long time.

Related link:
{The Little Black Dress & My MOM} | previous post by me with Mom in her bridal gown
Both of us LOVE Elephants | previous post by me with Pieter's Escada elephant tie
FAMILY Treasures from Chef of Smulhuis in Brunssum/The Netherlands | previous post with Pieter's Mom also wearing a black bridal gown
Dad Sang Solo on Mom & Dad's 50th Wedding Anniversary | previous post with Mom & Dad on their wedding day photos with Heeroom

Tuesday, May 4, 2021

My 2nd Trip to Jakarta and in Heeroom's Footsteps

Jakarta City Museum
On December 9, 1986 we arrived in Jakarta and stayed on my 2nd trip, at the Mandarin Oriental
Feeling like being home again!
All the way from Atlanta to Amsterdam and from there we flew to Kuwait, Singapore and on to Jakarta aboard another KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
Too bad we stayed only for one night but would be back again on December 18 for two nights.
We had 1.5 hour free time from our boss and went shopping in Sabang and found a nice Pierre Balmain belt and Dior handkerchief for Dad...
Also went to the Jakarta Cathedral for following Heeroom's footsteps...
We ate the best Steak au Poivre ever, at the Mandarin's Club Room!
On December 20, we flew to Denpasar, Bali... and from there, to Central Java.
Back again here at the Jakarta Mandarin Oriental on December 27.
Again dinner at the Club Room with once more a delicious Steak au Poivre, as our late Christmas dinner.
So romantic with strongly scented Arabian jasmine buds strewn over the damask tablecloth, which created a perfect atmosphere by candlelight!
On December 28 we took a taxi and went to the Cathedral for the 10:30 Mass.
Arriving at the Cathedral in Jakarta where Heeroom has been...
We were lucky for being at a Javanese wedding Mass where a Frenchman married his Indonesian bride.
Very special...
In the afternoon by 14:30 we went with our driver to the airport and flew to Singapore for yet another mushroom related visit...
~
On Easter Sunday, April 15 of 1990, we again were attending Mass at this Cathedral.
A solemn Mass with the Bishop and two concelebrants.
They had a beautiful choir that sang a Mass of Perosi.

Thursday, February 25, 2021

Dad Sang Solo on Mom & Dad's 50th Wedding Anniversary

 On Saturday, February 26, 1949 Mom & Dad got married by Dad's Maternal Uncle; Heeroom

Back then, they were not allowed to get married during Lent. Ash Wednesday was on March 2nd; Easter on April 17.

Mom & Dad after Church back at her Parents' place where they celebrated.
Posing against a straw mat here. Still remember the many uses of those mats, back in the 1950s.
Mom's black georgette dress in a size 6, or 36 European.
She was very slim back then and also taller.
Got this photo via FB from my First Cousin Maria Van Hoek-Gielen (her Mom was my Mom's sister).
Professional photos made earlier at a studio
Photo from Heeroom, on his second departure to Timor, Indonesia on April 21, 1949, less than two months after he blessed Mom & Dad's matrimony.
He was one of my most favorite people and I've written him several letters over the years.
On the day of our arrival, our final visit to Dad in The Netherlands, we talked a lot about Heeroom.
With quite some research, I've found lots of information about him.
He died because of acute kidney problems, while at a conference in Manilla, Philippines and got buried there. Will write more about Heeroom later!
Dad was taking his nap, but he jumped up to show us the photos from Heeroom's solemn requiem Mass and burial. 
Dad greatly admired Heeroom, he was very proud of him and talked fondly about him.
Sad, that my siblings did not give Dad his appropriate requiem Mass, just as Dad organized for Mom, where his fellow choir members could have sung... 
Dad, who got his Royal Certificates for being a Choir Member for exactly 81 years to the date of his death. He got a Certificate for 70 and 80 years; unique in The Netherlands!
Half a Century later...
Ready for Church... Mother and 2nd born daughter (me).
Wearing my Escada suit that I found at the Chattanooga, Tennessee Escada Outlet.
St. Lambertus, the Catholic Church in Horst, The Netherlands
Above in this photo you view some 14th and 15th Century art work, rescued from the bombed Church.
Taken on Mom & Dad's 50th Wedding Anniversary Mass.
As per Mom & Dad's request—I was the lay reader for their solemn 50th Anniversary Mass.
The Horster Mannenkoor sang, visible to the right.
That was the section where in my schooldays, the children were seated!
Walking back to the pew, to join Pieter and my siblings.
Dad's First Cousin made a video during Mass, brother Martin Van den Munckhof made the photos.
Sadly, their 55th, 60th and 65th Wedding Anniversary has not been celebrated with a Mass.
My sister Diny talked Mom & Dad out of that... only to rectify her own actions we think.
~
Husband Pieter did make a video during reception in the restaurant.
We first had coffee with pie, then dinner and afterwards the reception started.
Coffee and pie is being served during reception as well as alcoholic beverages and others.
This was the A.M.C. choir from the neighborhood. Dad's big choir had already given a serenade before these came to sing.
Toon Smits of the A.M.C. choir (Afhang – Middelijk) gently announces that they want to sing 'Wetscherni Swon', 'Evening Bells' as a closing for them at the reception of Mom & Dad's 50th wedding anniversary.
Dad says, I happen to have that song in 'my pocket'... and he takes a folded piece of paper out of his pocket and sings his 'favorite solo'...
Evening bells (dong, dong)
Evening bells (dong, dong)
How many thoughts (dong, dong)
They arouse! (dong, dong)
O youthful days (dong, dong)
Where I was born and bred (dong, dong)
Where I first loved (dong, dong)
Where Father's house stands (dong, dong)
And now how I, (dong, dong)
On forever parting (dong, dong)
Have heard the bells (dong, dong)
For my last time (dong, dong).
~
Those Russians knew something about melancholic sounding songs... This is a very old one from 1828.
Dad sang several Slavic songs, they all were his favorites!

Related posts:
My Angel Sister who Died TWICE 
Classic Escada Skirt Suit with Silk Gucci Scarf
{There You Go Again... Update}

AMC op 50 jarig huwelijk Papa & Moeke Van den Munckhof—video by Pieter J.C. Vedder | longer video

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