Christina Meynaerts
Christina was born September19, 1836 in Nieuwrode, (Kriesberg). She was the daughter of Andreas Meynaerts (born February 27, 1793) and Anna Maria Claes (born January 1, 1797).
Christina married Joseph Petrus on November 24, 1858 in Nieuwrode, Belgium.
Joseph, Christina and family immigrated to the United States in 1891. At the time of their departure from Belgium, Christina's age was listed as 57 (an apparent error in the passenger list shows "Christina" logged as "Justine"). They travelled with their four children, Alphonse age 17, Rosa age 18, Constant age 13 and Gustaf age 11, on the ship "Duepuy de Lome" captained by a Mr. "Dechaille." (Source, Audrey Vandersypen research at LSUA Library, Reel 75, Film # 205.)
They left two daughters, Justine and Polina, behind in Belgium because they were already married.
After Joseph's death, Christina became depressed as described by Gustave Petrus in a letter to his brother Ferdinand on April 24, 1913.
Mother is still living with us and I think she will stay here the rest of her days. She missed father very much at first and she seemed very lonesome but she has about got over that and become reconciled to her fate. We are doing what we can to make her stay with us cheerful and comfortable.
Christina was taken to live with her daughter Rose in 1919. Louis Petrus writes of Christina's trip to California in a November 20, 1919 postcard to Ferdiand Petrus
Brother, we took our mother to Sister Rose who wanted her very much. We brought her there in good health and she is there very content as are Sister Rose and her family who are in good health. Rose and Robert are doing well in Watsonville and have 10 acres of young, fertile, fruit trees and are earning their bread well.
Christina died December 16, 1919 and is buried in Watsonville, California. Gustave Petrus later confirms the news of her death in a letter to his brother Ferdinand.
As you must know Mother died on the 16th December of last year with sister Rose in California.
The decision to bury Christina in Watsonville must not have been a popular one with the rest of the family. I'm sure they would have preferred she be buried at her husband's side in the Pineville Cemetery in Louisiana. Gustave discusses the matter with Ferdinand in a letter dated April 15th 1920.
For answer to your question about Mother I can assure you, dear brother, that she had no objection to going to California and the reason she was buried there was -- so sister Rose has informed me -- because she expressed the wish before she died to rest by the side of her. Personally I would have preferred to have her buried here, but as it was she was already dead and buried when I heard from Robbrechts, so could not change the matter.
For more information about Christina's family, see Joseph Petrus.
Email comments to: ckpetrus@mac.com