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.

Now the minister of God lifts our spirits with comforting thoughts from our kind and loving Heavenly Father's word. "The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want . . . . In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you that where am there ye may be also . . . . "

After bowing our heads in prayer, we listen to the singing of "Dearest Lord Jesus" presented by another group of pupils. This choral from Bach we find so fitting, for our dear one had suffered much.

"Come, dearest Jesus. Oh, why dost thou tarry

Come, for with waiting my heart is so weary.
Come, if it please thee and grant me relief;

Take me away from the world's sin and grief."

And, again, as the pupils are singing for their teacher, as it were; yet without her loving presence, we feel the sadness in their message of song presented so sincerely.

The kind minister now continues with an encouraging spiritual message: "Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted."

Our hearts are strengthened and together we sing Martin Luther's unique hymn,

"A mighty fortress is our God,

A bulwark never failing
Our helper He amid the flood

Of mortal ills prevailing . . ."

As we observe this little family singing so earnestly, so heroically, we feel the power of God. We are reminded that God's strength is made perfect through our weakness.

The service is concluded at the grave, but our thoughts continue.

How remarkably this dear little woman had woven herself into our lives. She had been with us only four and one half years, this music teacher from Vienna. How sincerely she had adapted herself to our way of living. Eagerly she studied our language, our methods of cooking and marketing. Although rather timid and of a retiring disposition, she thanked us so graciously and so gratefully did she accept our help.

On the annals of time it is recorded that Susi Marting was born in 1890 in Marburg of Southern Austria. That she grew up and loved music to the extent that she was granted the State License for teaching music and and taught music nearly forty years; that in 1920 she married Robert Friedmann; that in 1940 she with her two sons joined her husband and in November of 1944, after having been a faithful member of the Eighth Street Mennonite church, she departed from this life to be forever with her Saviour.

On our hearts it is written —

A noble sour came to us
In simple, hubmle trust;

A noble soul has gone from us
In loving, kindly trust;

A noble thought is left with us —

In God we trust.

— Lydia F. Shank