Several years ago, Margaret Stubbe, secretary of the Dutch-Polish
Mennonite Foundation in the Netherlands, together with some co-workers, made an
extensive listing of inscriptions on tombstones in a number of Mennonite
cemeteries in Poland. Her findings showed that biblical quotations and
religious poems were often used to describe the life of the person buried
there. Sometimes, popular adages or simple expressions of piety were inscribed
to remind the passing viewer of the brevity of life, and the solemn
responsibilities shared by all of humanity. Expressions of love and
appreciation also appeared frequently on the markers.
The following examples demonstrate the rich variety of ways in which the
dead were remembered through tombstone inscriptions in the Heubuden cemetery:
| Hier ruht in Gott Abraham Harder Von Alt Munsterberg Geb. d. 8 August 1826 Gest. d. 22 Juni 1888 Ruhe sanft (on the reverse) Mein Staub nach kurzem Ruh. |
Here rests in God Abraham Harder From Old Munsterberg Born 8 August 1826 Died 22 June 1888 Rest gently (on the reverse) My dust, after a short rest |
Sometimes the inscription reflected changing styles of writing, as in
this example of one of the
oldest decipherable inscriptions in Heubuden:
| AR Hier ruhet Abraham Regehr Geboren zu Kaelitzkij Den 14 Meij Ao 1731 Gestorben Den 4 Octob: Ao 1802 Alt geworden 71 Jahr 4 Monat 20 Tag Dieser verewigte wurde den 1ten Novemb: A 1759 zum Dienst eines Diaconen, und den 21ten Septemb: Ao 1759 zum Lehrer der hiessigenb Gemeine erwahlet (on the reverse) |
AR Here rests Abraham Regehr Born in Warnau On 14 May 1731 Died On 4 October 1802 Was 71 years old 4 months 20 days He, now in eternity, on the 1st Of November 1759 was chosen For the service of deacon, and on the 21st of September 1759 as minister of the church here (on the reverse) |
A number of inscriptions end with the hope, Sanft ruhe ihre (seine)
Asche (May her [his] ashes rest gently). It is an inscription found in many
cemeteries besides the one at Heubuden.
| Hier ruhet in Gott Frau Anna Claassen geb. Reimer aus Simonsdorf geb. d. 16. Januar 1856 gest. d. 5. Marz 18Ö. (indecipherable) Sanft ruhe ihre Asche (on the reverse) |
Here rests in God Mrs. Anna Claassen nee Reimer From Simonsdorf born 16 January 1856 died 5 March 18 . . . May her ashes rest gently (on the reverse) |
Often, inscriptions speak of the Resurrection and the hope of seeing loved ones again. Sometimes this is expressed in biblical quotations, "Christus ist die Auferstehung und das Leben" (Christ is the resurrection and the life), at other times, in simple verse: Der Trennung Schmerz ist nur hienieden, Dort wiedersehn und ewiger Frieden" (The pain of separation is only here on earth; up there, reunion and eternal peace.)