On that day my uncle Paul Joannes Neukermans, after whom I have been named, died in Okegem where he had been born 14 years earlier on January 25 1920.
He was the third of my mother's four brothers, a son of Joannes Franciscus Neukermans (Okegem 1886 - 1961) and Maria Antonia De Vidts (Pamel 1885 - Okegem 1949).
He had been very ill for some time, and my grandparents did everything in their power and then some to save him, but even specialists in Brussel (which they could barely afford) could do nothing for him. I remember he died from an illness in the head, but I forgot which one, and there are preciously few people left alive who could remind me of what the illness was.
The young boy was wise far beyond his age, and his memory has been revered and cherished by all those who have known him as well as by their descendants.
Two years later, on May 10 1936 , my grandparents lost their eldest son Kamiel (Okegem 1913 - 1936). He died from the consequences of an accident during his military service.
The 1930s were a very dark period for my mother's family.
1 comment:
Menengitis ? I remember I was told there was a treatment with gold.
Post a Comment