Prayer cards, which appear to be mostly a catholic tradition, are printed to commemorate someone who has recently died. I was lucky enough to find the ‘In Memoriam’ or ‘prayer card’ of my great grandmother, Gabrielle Minne, in The Friends of the Poperings Archives’ online collection [De Vrienden van het Poperings Archief vzw (VPA)].
PRAY GOD FOR THE SOUL
of Mrs
GABRIELLE MINNE
Widow of Mr. Eduard LEMMENS
born in Nieuwpoort on 27 December 1891
and died in the H. Hart clinic in Ostend
on 28 December 1974—
Mother is no longer … For months we have been able to follow the process of her body and although we knew that science could soften something and save time, it seems strange to have to live with an empty place on our side. Being confronted with death is immediately thinking about the past life. A big golden thread crossed Mama’s whole life: the deep care for her children. She was a mother in the full sense of the word. This is also the great task that she has told us, right through all the difficulties: having a beating heart for his followers, a willing ear for the loved ones and quietly having a word that shows concern. Mama, we will now continue your task beyond death, believing that you are the strength and the stimulant of our actions because you were always able to fold your hands to prayer in all modest minds. Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for her.
Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for her.
—
The LEMMENS family – MINNE,
Thank you very much.WHOEVER BELIEVES IN ME WILL LIVE FOREVER
***
BIDT GOD VOOR DE ZIEL
van Mevrouw
GABRIELLE MINNE
Weduwe van de Heer Eduard LEMMENS
geboren te Nieuwpoort de 27 december 1891
en overleden in de H. Hartkliniek te Oostende
op 28 december 1974Moeder is niet meer… Maandenlang hebben wij het proces van haar lichaam kunnen volgen en al wisten wij dat de wetenschap wat kon verzachten en tijd winnen, toch doet het vreemd aan met een lege plaats aan onze zijde te moeten leven. Geconfronteerd worden met de dood is meteen nadenken over het voorbije leven. Een grote gouden draad doorkruiste gans mama’s leven: de diepe zorg voor haar kinderen. Zij was moeder in de volle zin van het woord. Dit is meteen ook de grote taak die zij ons heeft voorgeleefd, dwars door alle moeilljkheden heen: een kloppend hart hebben voor de zijnen, een luisterbereid oor voor de geliefden en in alle stilte een woord overhebben dat getuigt van bekommernis.
Mama, uw taak zullen we nu over de dood heen verder zetten, gelovend dat u de kracht en de stimulans zuit zijn van ons handelen omdat ge steeds in alle bescheidenheld uw handen tot gebed wist te vouwen.
Onze Lieve Vrouw van Lourdes, bid voor haar.
—
De familie LEMMENS – MINNE,
danken U welgemeend.WIE IN MIJ GELOOFT ZAL EEUWIG LEVEN
The card has also given me a nice bit of personal information I would not have otherwise known about. After showing the card to my mother, she remarked that Gabrielle was “passionate about ‘Our Lady of Lourdes'”. She used to pray to her statue at home every day and any time she had problems, so one year her daughter, Betty took her to visit Lourdes.
With street view on GoogleMaps, I was pleased to determine the exact point the above was photo was taken – at the Boulevard Rémi Sempé entrance. Another photo from the trip, seems to have been taken after ‘sampling’ the ‘holy water’.
But perhaps my favourite photograph from the trip, one that gives me a glimpse of my great grandmother’s personality, is the one where she is drinking straight from the bottle while having what appears to be a spot of lunch.
Another rewarding source of information can be found in ‘mourning cards’. A Lemmens cousin also gave me a digital copy of what appears to be an invitation to Gabrielle’s funeral. Along with details of her death, it gives the time and location of her funeral service and subsequent burial. But on the back, is a genealogical goldmine – a list of all her children, grandchildren and their spouses! Very handy, indeed.
