Remembering

My Father, Bernard Joseph Deatsch was born in March of 1909. In 1908, his Mother, Josephine, had survived a long and difficult labor and birth. Sadly the child, a little girl, Christina Catherine did not survive. Josephine's Father, Martin Birrer arranged the burial at St. Stanislaus Cemetery, near Hills, IA (Where the Birrers are buried). Her grave was never marked and early records are incomplete. Over the years the location of her grave was lost in obscurity, as the Grandparents died and her parents were busy caring for their large family. In the late 1940, George and Josephine tried unsuccessfully to discover the grave site, so a stone could be set. In later years,, several of the next generation initiated further searches, sadly also unsucessful. At the family reunions, this problem was discussed. At the July 2009 reunion, the group decided to accept donations from the "cousins (neices & nephews)" and purchase a headstone for Christina and place it near her parents, who are buried at St. Vincent's Cemetery, west of Riverside, IA. When Josephine died in the mid 1950s, her sons made arrangements for 3 spaces at St. Vincent's, near the graves of George's parents and Grandparents. Melo was not married at this time, so a space was obtained for him, as well. Later he would marry Aunt Garna and is buried with her at Washington, IA. The next summer, Bernard(my Dad) went to Riverside and obtained 6 additional spaces, 3 for his use and 3 for his brother, Sim. And now they all rest in peace, side by side in a row, Grandma & Grandpa, Dad and Mom, and Aunt Alice and Uncle Sim. Each family unit has one unused space, so there is room for Christina Catherine's headstone, near her parents. We have been told that the Board, which oversees St. Vincent's has been doing some landscaping and making improvements, so we will look forward to seeing what they have accomplished. The cemetery is well maintained and beautiful. We hope that future generations appreciate our efforts to erect a monument in her memory and are not confused that it is placed in a different cemetery. By placing it near her parents, and two siblings, it was hoped it would make it easier to "see" the connection to the family.