Noroop op Hertha

vun Clara Kramer-Freudenthal
(Oostermoond 1999)

Hertha is vun uns gohn. Dingsdag hebbt wi ehr op den letzten irdschen Weg uns Ehr wiest. Uns Fomiljen wüürn miteenanner verbunnen dörch de Heiroot vun unsen Diether mit Renate, een Süsterkind vun Hertha. Krieg, Bomben un Nokriegswirren harr Hertha mit Fomilje, liekso as uns Nati mit ehr Öllern de Flucht ut Pommern, trüch in 't Öllernhuus no Harshei dreben. Dree Fomiljen ünner een Dack! ober Oma Struck harr allns good in Griff. Respekt! Hilde, de jüngste vun de dree Süstern, wüür nich verheiroodt un hett ehr Süstern Hertha, Grete un Mudder ümmer to Siet stohn. De veer Kinner vun Hertha un uns Nati ehr lebe Mudder Grete sünd miteenanner opwussen as Süstern.

De Tiet de läup un löppt gau. De Kinner wörrn flüggriep un güngen so bilütten jümehr egen Weeg. Öber unsen Diether un sien Nati kregen wi nu ok Togang in ditt gastfründliche Huus un käumen uns mit de Minschen in de Kiebitzrehg Nr. 38 bannig neuger, müch seggen, wi wörrn een Fomilje.

Is nu mol de Loop vun de Welt; de Kinner hebbt heiroodt, de iersten Enkelkinner käumen op de Welt un Oma Hertha sowie Oma Grete wüürn to jeedeen Tiet proot jümehr Döchter ünner de Arms to griepen, dormit se jümehrn Beroop nogohn kunnen. Ohn' Soorg kunn'n de Döchter freuh ut'n Huus gohn, jümehr Kinner wüürn in de besten un leevsten Hannen opwohrt. So güng dat öber Johre, bet ok de Generotschoon op egen Feut stünn un utflogen is, liekso as wi dat ok instmols mookt hebbt.

Nu wüürn de dree Süstern gans alleen in dat grote Huus an de Eck vun de Kiebitzrehg. Ober de Traditschoon wörr wohrt. Oma Struck ehr Geist leev wieder in dat Huus, un to Oostern wüür de ganse Fomilje, de Döchter mit jümehr Mannslüüd, Grootkinner mit jümehr Frünnen to'n Oostereierseuken proot. De tweete Wiehnachtsdag wörr ok Johr för Johr to een Fomiljendropen. Dat Huus wüür proppenvull, liekers kommodig un vergneugt. Hett ok nie nich anners ween kunnt.

Ober de Sesselmann hett tosloon, iers müß Hilde, de jüngst vun de dree Süstern gohn. Ok bi Grete wörrn de Knööf weniger, un in Sloop hett Gott Voder ehr in sien Arms nohm un to sik hoolt. Nu wüür Hertha, de öllste vun de dree Süstern, gans alleen in dat grote Huus. Grotet Glück för Hertha wüürn twee Urgrootkinner, de se noch in ehr Arms hett wegen dröfft. Beide Döchter un de Grootdöchter hebbt jümehr Mudder un Oma to Siet stohn, bet ok Hertha mit ehr Johrn in de tachentig nich mihr kunn, un bi Dochter Dagmar een Tohuus fünn. Dochter Hilde-Gret hett ehr Mudder versorgt bet Dagmar sobends vun de Arbeit keum. Leev un Pleeg hett Hertha ümgeben bet to ehrn Dood. Sachtens is se gans ruhig inslopen un ehr Kinner wüürn bi ehr, ok uns Diether un Nati hebbt bet to 'n letzten Otentoog mit an't Bett stohn.

Dat Besinn geiht nochmol trüch, un all de scheunen Fiern de wi mit Hertha un de Fomilie beleevd hebbt wart warrer wook. Danke, Hertha! Wi hebbt scheune Stünn miteenanner hatt.

Mi drückt ober noch wat. Nati un ik wullen Hertha tosomen beseuken. De Termin wüür fastleggt. Käum bi mi wat twüschen, wat ik nich opschuben kunn. Een annern Dag hebbt wi uns fuurts utkeken, ober denn müß Nati afseggen, wiel se Handwerkers in 't Huus harr. Wi hebbt beide seggt: ,,Machen wir morgen.'' Leider is morgen güstern al wesen. Bitte vergeev mi, lebe Hertha! Vergeten warr ik di nie nich. -- Dien Clärchen

Obituary for Hertha

by Clara Kramer-Freudenthal 
(April 1999)

Hertha has left us. On Tuesday we paid our respects on her last earthly journey. Our families have been connected with each other because of our Diether's marriage to Renate, a [sister's child =] niece of Hertha's. War, bombs and post-war confusion drove Hertha and family, just like our Nati and her parents, as refugees from Pomerania back to her parents' house in Harksheide. Three families under one roof! But Grandma Struck got a handle on it. Respect! Hilde, the youngest of the three sisters, was not married and had always been supportive of her sisters Hertha and Grete [= Mag], as well as her mother. Hertha's four children and Grete, our Nati's dear mother, grew up together as sisters.

Time went by, and it goes by fast. The children turned into fledglings and gradually began going their own ways. Through our Diether and his Nati we then gained access to this hospitable home and got very closer to the folks at 38 Kiebitzreihe [= Plover Lane]. I dare say we became one family.

This is how it goes: the children got married, grandchildren started being born, and Grandma Hertha, like Grandma Grete, were always ready to lend their daughters a supporting hand to enable them to follow their carriers. The daughters used to leave the house in the morning without having to worry. Their children were safe in the most capable and loving hands. That is how it went on for years until that generation, too, stood on its own feet and left the nest, just as we once did.

Now the three sisters were all alone in that large house at the corner of Kiebitzreihe. But the tradition continued. Grandma Struck's spirit continued living in that house, and on Easter the whole family was ready for Easter egg hunts -- the three daughters with their husbands, and the grandchildren with their friends. Boxing Day, too, used to be a day for family get-togethers. The house used to be bursting at the seams, yet was comfortable and full of joy. It simply had to be.

But then the grim reaper started hitting. The first one to go was Hilde, the youngest of the three sisters. Grete's strength, too, began to dwindle, and the Lord took her into his arms to carry her home as she was sleeping. Now Hertha, the oldest of the three sisters, was all alone in the large house. Hertha's great joy was being still around to rock her two great-grandchildren in her arms. Both daughters and the great-granddaughters looked after their mother and grandmother, until Hertha, too, being in her eighties, was no longer able to cope and found a home at her daughter Dagmar's. Daughter Hilde-Gret would look after her mother until Dagmar would come home from work in the evenings. Love and care surrounded Hertha until her death. Quietly and calmly she fell asleep, and her children were by her side. Our Diether and his Nati, too, stood at her bedside until her last breath.

Memories of enjoyable get-togethers we had with Hertha and family are being rekindled. Thanks, Hertha. We have spent lovely times together.

But something still bothers me. Nati and I had wanted to visit Hertha. We had decided on a date. Something came up for me that I could not postpone. We agreed on another day, but then Nati had to cancel because she had repairmen in the house. Both of us said, "We'll do it tomorrow." Unfortunately tomorrow turned into yesterday. Please forgive me, dear Hertha! I will never forget you, though. -- Your Clärchen

Naroup op Hertha

fun Clara Kramer-Freudenthal
(Oostermaand 1999)

Hertha is fun uns gaan. Dingsdag hevt wii er op d'n letsten irdschen weg uns eir wiisd. Uns famiiljen woyren mit 'n anner ferbunden doerch de hairaat fun unsen Diether mit Renate, 'n suesterkind fun Hertha. Kriig, bomben un naakriigs-wirren har Hertha mit famiilje, liik soo as uns Nati mit er oeldern, de flucht uut Pommern trueg in 't oeldern-huus naa Harshaid' dreven. Drei famiiljen uenner ein dak! Aver Ouma Struck har allens goud in d'n grif. Respekt! Hilde, de juengste fun de drei suestern, woyr nich ferhairaadt un het er suestern Hertha, Grete un Mudder uemmer tou siit staan. De feir kinder fun Hertha un uns Nati er leve Mudder Grete suend mit 'n anner op-wussen as suestern.

De tiid, dei loyp un loept gau. De kinder woerren flueg-riip un guengen soo bi luetten juem er eigen weeg'. Euver unsen Diether un siin Nati kregen wii nuu ouk tougang in dit gast-fruendliche huus un koymen uns mit de minschen in de Kibits-Reig' Nr. 38 [nummer acht un dertig] bannig noyger. Muech seggen, wii woerren ein famiilje.

Is nuu maal de loup fun de welt: de kinder hevt hairaadt, de eirsden enkel-kinder koymen op de welt, un Ouma Hertha sowii Ouma Grete woyren tou jeid ein tiid praat juem er doechter uenner de arms tou gripen daar mit sei juem eren beroup naa-gaan kunnen. Aan sorg kunnen de doechter froyh uut d'n huus gaan. Juem er kinder woyren in de besden un leivsden handen op-waard. Soo gueng dat euver jare bet ouk dei generaatschoon op eigen foyt stuen un uut-flagen is, liik soo as wii dat ouk instmaals maakd hevt.

Nuu woyren de drei suestern ganss allein in dat grote huus an de ek fun de Kibits-Reeg'. Aver de tradiitschoon woer waard. Ouma Struck er gaist leev' wider in dat huus, un tou Oostern woyr de gansse famiilje -- de doechter mit juem er mans-luyd', grootkinder mit juem er fruenden -- tou d'n ooster-aier-soyken praat. De tweide Winachtsdag woer ouk jaar foer jaar tou 'n famiiljen-drapen. Dat huus woyr proppen-ful, likers kommodig un fergnoygd. Het ouk nii nich anners ween kund.

Aver de sessel-man het tou-slaan. Eirsd muess Hilde, de juengst fun de drei suestern, gaan. Ouk bii Grete woerren de kneuf weniger, un in d'n slaap het Got Fader er in siin arms namen un tou sik haald. Nuu woyr Hertha, de oeldsde fun de drei suestern, ganss allein in dat grote huus. Grotet gluek foer Hertha woyren twei uurgroot-kinder dei sei noch in er arms het weigen droeft. Baide doechter un de groot-doechter hevt juem er mudder un ouma tou siit staan bet ouk Hertha mit er Jaren in de tachentig nich meir kun un bii dochter Dagmar 'n touhuus fuennen. Dochter Hilde-Gret het er mudder fersorgd bet Dagmar 's avends fun de arbaid koym. Leiv' un pleeg' het Hertha uem-geven bet tou eren dood. Sachtens is sei ganss ruig in-slapen, un er Kinner woyren bii er. Ouk uns Diether un Nati hevt bet tou d'n letsden aten-toug mit an't bed staan.

Dat besinnen gait noch maal trueg, un al de schoynen firen dei wii mit Hertha un de famiilje beleevt hevt warrt warrer wook. Danke Hertha, wii hevt schoyne stuenden mitenanner hatt.

Mii druekt aver noch wat. Nati un ik wullen Hertha tosamen besoyken. De termiin woyr fast legd. Koym bii mii wat twueschen wat ik nich op-schuven kun. 'n Annern dag hebt wii uns fourts uut-keken, aver den muess Nati af-seggen wiil sei hand-werkers in 't huus har. Wii hebt baide segd: ,,Machen wir morgen.'' Laider is morgen guestern al wesen. Bitte fergeev' mii, leve Hertha! Fergeten war ik dii nii nich. -- Diin Clärchen

Obituary for Hertha

by Clara Kramer-Freudenthal 
(April 1999)

Hertha has left us. On Tuesday we paid our respects on her last earthly journey. Our families have been connected with each other because of our Diether's marriage to Renate, a [sister's child =] niece of Hertha's. War, bombs and post-war confusion drove Hertha and family, just like our Nati and her parents, as refugees from Pomerania back to her parents' house in Harksheide. Three families under one roof! But Grandma Struck got a handle on it. Respect! Hilde, the youngest of the three sisters, was not married and had always been supportive of her sisters Hertha and Grete [= Mag], as well as her mother. Hertha's four children and Grete, our Nati's dear mother, grew up together as sisters.

Time went by, and it goes by fast. The children turned into fledglings and gradually began going their own ways. Through our Diether and his Nati we then gained access to this hospitable home and got very closer to the folks at 38 Kiebitzreihe [= Plover Lane]. I dare say we became one family.

This is how it goes: the children got married, grandchildren started being born, and Grandma Hertha, like Grandma Grete, were always ready to lend their daughters a supporting hand to enable them to follow their carriers. The daughters used to leave the house in the morning without having to worry. Their children were safe in the most capable and loving hands. That is how it went on for years until that generation, too, stood on its own feet and left the nest, just as we once did.

Now the three sisters were all alone in that large house at the corner of Kiebitzreihe. But the tradition continued. Grandma Struck's spirit continued living in that house, and on Easter the whole family was ready for Easter egg hunts -- the three daughters with their husbands, and the grandchildren with their friends. Boxing Day, too, used to be a day for family get-togethers. The house used to be bursting at the seams, yet was comfortable and full of joy. It simply had to be.

But then the grim reaper started hitting. The first one to go was Hilde, the youngest of the three sisters. Grete's strength, too, began to dwindle, and the Lord took her into his arms to carry her home as she was sleeping. Now Hertha, the oldest of the three sisters, was all alone in the large house. Hertha's great joy was being still around to rock her two great-grandchildren in her arms. Both daughters and the great-granddaughters looked after their mother and grandmother, until Hertha, too, being in her eighties, was no longer able to cope and found a home at her daughter Dagmar's. Daughter Hilde-Gret would look after her mother until Dagmar would come home from work in the evenings. Love and care surrounded Hertha until her death. Quietly and calmly she fell asleep, and her children were by her side. Our Diether and his Nati, too, stood at her bedside until her last breath.

Memories of enjoyable get-togethers we had with Hertha and family are being rekindled. Thanks, Hertha. We have spent lovely times together.

But something still bothers me. Nati and I had wanted to visit Hertha. We had decided on a date. Something came up for me that I could not postpone. We agreed on another day, but then Nati had to cancel because she had repairmen in the house. Both of us said, "We'll do it tomorrow." Unfortunately tomorrow turned into yesterday. Please forgive me, dear Hertha! I will never forget you, though. -- Your Clärchen

Noroop op Hertha

vun Clara Kramer-Freudenthal
(Oostermoond 1999)

Hertha is vun uns gohn. Dingsdag hebbt wi ehr op den letzten irdschen Weg uns Ehr wiest. Uns Fomiljen wüürn miteenanner verbunnen dörch de Heiroot vun unsen Diether mit Renate, een Süsterkind vun Hertha. Krieg, Bomben un Nokriegswirren harr Hertha mit Fomilje, liekso as uns Nati mit ehr Öllern de Flucht ut Pommern, trüch in 't Öllernhuus no Harshei dreben. Dree Fomiljen ünner een Dack! ober Oma Struck harr allns good in Griff. Respekt! Hilde, de jüngste vun de dree Süstern, wüür nich verheiroodt un hett ehr Süstern Hertha, Grete un Mudder ümmer to Siet stohn. De veer Kinner vun Hertha un uns Nati ehr lebe Mudder Grete sünd miteenanner opwussen as Süstern.

De Tiet de läup un löppt gau. De Kinner wörrn flüggriep un güngen so bilütten jümehr egen Weeg. Öber unsen Diether un sien Nati kregen wi nu ok Togang in ditt gastfründliche Huus un käumen uns mit de Minschen in de Kiebitzrehg Nr. 38 bannig neuger, müch seggen, wi wörrn een Fomilje.

Is nu mol de Loop vun de Welt; de Kinner hebbt heiroodt, de iersten Enkelkinner käumen op de Welt un Oma Hertha sowie Oma Grete wüürn to jeedeen Tiet proot jümehr Döchter ünner de Arms to griepen, dormit se jümehrn Beroop nogohn kunnen. Ohn' Soorg kunn'n de Döchter freuh ut'n Huus gohn, jümehr Kinner wüürn in de besten un leevsten Hannen opwohrt. So güng dat öber Johre, bet ok de Generotschoon op egen Feut stünn un utflogen is, liekso as wi dat ok instmols mookt hebbt.

Nu wüürn de dree Süstern gans alleen in dat grote Huus an de Eck vun de Kiebitzrehg. Ober de Traditschoon wörr wohrt. Oma Struck ehr Geist leev wieder in dat Huus, un to Oostern wüür de ganse Fomilje, de Döchter mit jümehr Mannslüüd, Grootkinner mit jümehr Frünnen to'n Oostereierseuken proot. De tweete Wiehnachtsdag wörr ok Johr för Johr to een Fomiljendropen. Dat Huus wüür proppenvull, liekers kommodig un vergneugt. Hett ok nie nich anners ween kunnt.

Ober de Sesselmann hett tosloon, iers müß Hilde, de jüngst vun de dree Süstern gohn. Ok bi Grete wörrn de Knööf weniger, un in Sloop hett Gott Voder ehr in sien Arms nohm un to sik hoolt. Nu wüür Hertha, de öllste vun de dree Süstern, gans alleen in dat grote Huus. Grotet Glück för Hertha wüürn twee Urgrootkinner, de se noch in ehr Arms hett wegen dröfft. Beide Döchter un de Grootdöchter hebbt jümehr Mudder un Oma to Siet stohn, bet ok Hertha mit ehr Johrn in de tachentig nich mihr kunn, un bi Dochter Dagmar een Tohuus fünn. Dochter Hilde-Gret hett ehr Mudder versorgt bet Dagmar sobends vun de Arbeit keum. Leev un Pleeg hett Hertha ümgeben bet to ehrn Dood. Sachtens is se gans ruhig inslopen un ehr Kinner wüürn bi ehr, ok uns Diether un Nati hebbt bet to 'n letzten Otentoog mit an't Bett stohn.

Dat Besinn geiht nochmol trüch, un all de scheunen Fiern de wi mit Hertha un de Fomilie beleevd hebbt wart warrer wook. Danke, Hertha! Wi hebbt scheune Stünn miteenanner hatt.

Mi drückt ober noch wat. Nati un ik wullen Hertha tosomen beseuken. De Termin wüür fastleggt. Käum bi mi wat twüschen, wat ik nich opschuben kunn. Een annern Dag hebbt wi uns fuurts utkeken, ober denn müß Nati afseggen, wiel se Handwerkers in 't Huus harr. Wi hebbt beide seggt: ,,Machen wir morgen.'' Leider is morgen güstern al wesen. Bitte vergeev mi, lebe Hertha! Vergeten warr ik di nie nich. -- Dien Clärchen

Obituary for Hertha

by Clara Kramer-Freudenthal 
(April 1999)

Hertha has left us. On Tuesday we paid our respects on her last earthly journey. Our families have been connected with each other because of our Diether's marriage to Renate, a [sister's child =] niece of Hertha's. War, bombs and post-war confusion drove Hertha and family, just like our Nati and her parents, as refugees from Pomerania back to her parents' house in Harksheide. Three families under one roof! But Grandma Struck got a handle on it. Respect! Hilde, the youngest of the three sisters, was not married and had always been supportive of her sisters Hertha and Grete [= Mag], as well as her mother. Hertha's four children and Grete, our Nati's dear mother, grew up together as sisters.

Time went by, and it goes by fast. The children turned into fledglings and gradually began going their own ways. Through our Diether and his Nati we then gained access to this hospitable home and got very closer to the folks at 38 Kiebitzreihe [= Plover Lane]. I dare say we became one family.

This is how it goes: the children got married, grandchildren started being born, and Grandma Hertha, like Grandma Grete, were always ready to lend their daughters a supporting hand to enable them to follow their carriers. The daughters used to leave the house in the morning without having to worry. Their children were safe in the most capable and loving hands. That is how it went on for years until that generation, too, stood on its own feet and left the nest, just as we once did.

Now the three sisters were all alone in that large house at the corner of Kiebitzreihe. But the tradition continued. Grandma Struck's spirit continued living in that house, and on Easter the whole family was ready for Easter egg hunts -- the three daughters with their husbands, and the grandchildren with their friends. Boxing Day, too, used to be a day for family get-togethers. The house used to be bursting at the seams, yet was comfortable and full of joy. It simply had to be.

But then the grim reaper started hitting. The first one to go was Hilde, the youngest of the three sisters. Grete's strength, too, began to dwindle, and the Lord took her into his arms to carry her home as she was sleeping. Now Hertha, the oldest of the three sisters, was all alone in the large house. Hertha's great joy was being still around to rock her two great-grandchildren in her arms. Both daughters and the great-granddaughters looked after their mother and grandmother, until Hertha, too, being in her eighties, was no longer able to cope and found a home at her daughter Dagmar's. Daughter Hilde-Gret would look after her mother until Dagmar would come home from work in the evenings. Love and care surrounded Hertha until her death. Quietly and calmly she fell asleep, and her children were by her side. Our Diether and his Nati, too, stood at her bedside until her last breath.

Memories of enjoyable get-togethers we had with Hertha and family are being rekindled. Thanks, Hertha. We have spent lovely times together.

But something still bothers me. Nati and I had wanted to visit Hertha. We had decided on a date. Something came up for me that I could not postpone. We agreed on another day, but then Nati had to cancel because she had repairmen in the house. Both of us said, "We'll do it tomorrow." Unfortunately tomorrow turned into yesterday. Please forgive me, dear Hertha! I will never forget you, though. -- Your Clärchen

Naroup op Hertha

fun Clara Kramer-Freudenthal
(Oostermaand 1999)

Hertha is fun uns gaan. Dingsdag hevt wii er op d'n letsten irdschen weg uns eir wiisd. Uns famiiljen woyren mit 'n anner ferbunden doerch de hairaat fun unsen Diether mit Renate, 'n suesterkind fun Hertha. Kriig, bomben un naakriigs-wirren har Hertha mit famiilje, liik soo as uns Nati mit er oeldern, de flucht uut Pommern trueg in 't oeldern-huus naa Harshaid' dreven. Drei famiiljen uenner ein dak! Aver Ouma Struck har allens goud in d'n grif. Respekt! Hilde, de juengste fun de drei suestern, woyr nich ferhairaadt un het er suestern Hertha, Grete un Mudder uemmer tou siit staan. De feir kinder fun Hertha un uns Nati er leve Mudder Grete suend mit 'n anner op-wussen as suestern.

De tiid, dei loyp un loept gau. De kinder woerren flueg-riip un guengen soo bi luetten juem er eigen weeg'. Euver unsen Diether un siin Nati kregen wii nuu ouk tougang in dit gast-fruendliche huus un koymen uns mit de minschen in de Kibits-Reig' Nr. 38 [nummer acht un dertig] bannig noyger. Muech seggen, wii woerren ein famiilje.

Is nuu maal de loup fun de welt: de kinder hevt hairaadt, de eirsden enkel-kinder koymen op de welt, un Ouma Hertha sowii Ouma Grete woyren tou jeid ein tiid praat juem er doechter uenner de arms tou gripen daar mit sei juem eren beroup naa-gaan kunnen. Aan sorg kunnen de doechter froyh uut d'n huus gaan. Juem er kinder woyren in de besden un leivsden handen op-waard. Soo gueng dat euver jare bet ouk dei generaatschoon op eigen foyt stuen un uut-flagen is, liik soo as wii dat ouk instmaals maakd hevt.

Nuu woyren de drei suestern ganss allein in dat grote huus an de ek fun de Kibits-Reeg'. Aver de tradiitschoon woer waard. Ouma Struck er gaist leev' wider in dat huus, un tou Oostern woyr de gansse famiilje -- de doechter mit juem er mans-luyd', grootkinder mit juem er fruenden -- tou d'n ooster-aier-soyken praat. De tweide Winachtsdag woer ouk jaar foer jaar tou 'n famiiljen-drapen. Dat huus woyr proppen-ful, likers kommodig un fergnoygd. Het ouk nii nich anners ween kund.

Aver de sessel-man het tou-slaan. Eirsd muess Hilde, de juengst fun de drei suestern, gaan. Ouk bii Grete woerren de kneuf weniger, un in d'n slaap het Got Fader er in siin arms namen un tou sik haald. Nuu woyr Hertha, de oeldsde fun de drei suestern, ganss allein in dat grote huus. Grotet gluek foer Hertha woyren twei uurgroot-kinder dei sei noch in er arms het weigen droeft. Baide doechter un de groot-doechter hevt juem er mudder un ouma tou siit staan bet ouk Hertha mit er Jaren in de tachentig nich meir kun un bii dochter Dagmar 'n touhuus fuennen. Dochter Hilde-Gret het er mudder fersorgd bet Dagmar 's avends fun de arbaid koym. Leiv' un pleeg' het Hertha uem-geven bet tou eren dood. Sachtens is sei ganss ruig in-slapen, un er Kinner woyren bii er. Ouk uns Diether un Nati hevt bet tou d'n letsden aten-toug mit an't bed staan.

Dat besinnen gait noch maal trueg, un al de schoynen firen dei wii mit Hertha un de famiilje beleevt hevt warrt warrer wook. Danke Hertha, wii hevt schoyne stuenden mitenanner hatt.

Mii druekt aver noch wat. Nati un ik wullen Hertha tosamen besoyken. De termiin woyr fast legd. Koym bii mii wat twueschen wat ik nich op-schuven kun. 'n Annern dag hebt wii uns fourts uut-keken, aver den muess Nati af-seggen wiil sei hand-werkers in 't huus har. Wii hebt baide segd: ,,Machen wir morgen.'' Laider is morgen guestern al wesen. Bitte fergeev' mii, leve Hertha! Fergeten war ik dii nii nich. -- Diin Clärchen

Obituary for Hertha

by Clara Kramer-Freudenthal 
(April 1999)

Hertha has left us. On Tuesday we paid our respects on her last earthly journey. Our families have been connected with each other because of our Diether's marriage to Renate, a [sister's child =] niece of Hertha's. War, bombs and post-war confusion drove Hertha and family, just like our Nati and her parents, as refugees from Pomerania back to her parents' house in Harksheide. Three families under one roof! But Grandma Struck got a handle on it. Respect! Hilde, the youngest of the three sisters, was not married and had always been supportive of her sisters Hertha and Grete [= Mag], as well as her mother. Hertha's four children and Grete, our Nati's dear mother, grew up together as sisters.

Time went by, and it goes by fast. The children turned into fledglings and gradually began going their own ways. Through our Diether and his Nati we then gained access to this hospitable home and got very closer to the folks at 38 Kiebitzreihe [= Plover Lane]. I dare say we became one family.

This is how it goes: the children got married, grandchildren started being born, and Grandma Hertha, like Grandma Grete, were always ready to lend their daughters a supporting hand to enable them to follow their carriers. The daughters used to leave the house in the morning without having to worry. Their children were safe in the most capable and loving hands. That is how it went on for years until that generation, too, stood on its own feet and left the nest, just as we once did.

Now the three sisters were all alone in that large house at the corner of Kiebitzreihe. But the tradition continued. Grandma Struck's spirit continued living in that house, and on Easter the whole family was ready for Easter egg hunts -- the three daughters with their husbands, and the grandchildren with their friends. Boxing Day, too, used to be a day for family get-togethers. The house used to be bursting at the seams, yet was comfortable and full of joy. It simply had to be.

But then the grim reaper started hitting. The first one to go was Hilde, the youngest of the three sisters. Grete's strength, too, began to dwindle, and the Lord took her into his arms to carry her home as she was sleeping. Now Hertha, the oldest of the three sisters, was all alone in the large house. Hertha's great joy was being still around to rock her two great-grandchildren in her arms. Both daughters and the great-granddaughters looked after their mother and grandmother, until Hertha, too, being in her eighties, was no longer able to cope and found a home at her daughter Dagmar's. Daughter Hilde-Gret would look after her mother until Dagmar would come home from work in the evenings. Love and care surrounded Hertha until her death. Quietly and calmly she fell asleep, and her children were by her side. Our Diether and his Nati, too, stood at her bedside until her last breath.

Memories of enjoyable get-togethers we had with Hertha and family are being rekindled. Thanks, Hertha. We have spent lovely times together.

But something still bothers me. Nati and I had wanted to visit Hertha. We had decided on a date. Something came up for me that I could not postpone. We agreed on another day, but then Nati had to cancel because she had repairmen in the house. Both of us said, "We'll do it tomorrow." Unfortunately tomorrow turned into yesterday. Please forgive me, dear Hertha! I will never forget you, though. -- Your Clärchen