Sprigs of Greenery

Sprigs of greenery were sometimes sewn onto the lining and, when available, flowers were placed in the hands of the deceased and/or on the coffin. In this photograph the diseased was Jakob Klassen (1856–1926), buried at Waldheim cemetery, prepared for burial by Anganetha Dyck-Bergen-Baerg (1859–1942), according to her hand-written record.

This is of interest to us because, of course, Jakob Klassen is on our Klassen ancestry tree and Anganetha Dyck is on our Bergen ancestry tree.

Standing behind the coffin are Jakob Klassen's 3rd wife, Magreta Engbrecht-Gossen-Klassen (died 1944), and his children from L to R: Abraham Klassen 1883–1973 (our ancestor) and his siblings, Elisabeth Klassen-Loewen 1880–1955, Johann Klassen 1896–1975, Katharina Klassen-Friesen 1885–1971, Frank Klassen 1899–1971, Eva Klassen-Friesen 1893–1960.