Friedmann, Susi Marting (1890-1944)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1944 Dec 28 p. 3

Birth date: 1890

text of obituary:

ON THE PASSING OF MRS. SUSI MARTING FRIEDMANN

(Editor's Note: The following is written in remembrance of Mrs. Susi Friedmann, a refugee, who died recently at Goshen, Ind.)

Solemnly, quietly, sadly we gather in the church to pay our last respects to Mrs. Susi Marting Friedmann, whom we loved. She had endeared herself to so many. The church is now nearly filled. The family procession composed of four arrives — the husband, the two sons, and the sister-in-law. Our hearts are deeply touched.

Our minds and hearts are lifted with the lovely thoughts of "Abide With Me." "Somewhere the Sun is Shining," and "In the Sweet By and By," for we think of our loved one free from pain enjoying the blessful [sic] moments of Heaven. We are happy for her. But looking at the family, so few in number, and now without a mother, we also feel deep sorrow. There is John, who had cared so tenderly for his mother until he was called away to camp, and there is Mark who had shared so many of the joys of music with his mother. These boys, will they remember their mother and live true to the Christian ideals which their mother taught them. May God care for them and lead them aright.

Our minds go back to the summer of 1940 when the Friedmann family came to our community. We think of how they were led to come to us. We remember that Dr. Friedmann, being interested in the history of the Anabaptists, sent an article to the "Mennonite Quarterly Review" which resulted in friendly correspondence with Dean H. S. Bender; and that later in 1940 after Dr. Friedmann had arrived at Yale University, he sent for his wife and sons. We recall that as refugees from Vienna, the family had little of this world's goods even though they had been in very comfortable circumstances before the war. Dr. Roland H. Bainton of Yale, knowing that Dr. Friedmann had had correspondence with Dean Bender, wrote to him asking whether we could help this family to get started again . . .

From a side door came three young ladies — young ladies who heretofore had appeared at recitals and other special occasions with their teacher. Today they are very solemn as they offer Beethoven's "First Trio." The absence of Mrs. Friedmann is felt keenly. We miss her eager, anxious spirit, her desire for the perfect expression of the music and her joy when the task is well done. The tones from the cello, from the violin, from the piano — all tell the story — our teacher has gone away.