Marieke Brusten |
Great-grand aunt Marieke was born in 1879 in the Belgian village of Wijchmaal as the first daughter of Henri Brusten and Maria Jonkers.
I know that, at the beginning of the Great War, Marieke fled to the Netherlands. Since most of her siblings eventually ended up in England, my guess is that she moved over there as well.
She first married Herman Van de Venne who, in 1904, became a professor at the "Instituto Superior de Agronomia y Veterinaria" in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Two years later, in 1906, it was decided that there was no longer a need for the services of Herman and the co-operation was ended and Herman had to go and look for another job.
I know that, at the beginning of the Great War, Marieke fled to the Netherlands. Since most of her siblings eventually ended up in England, my guess is that she moved over there as well.
She first married Herman Van de Venne who, in 1904, became a professor at the "Instituto Superior de Agronomia y Veterinaria" in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Two years later, in 1906, it was decided that there was no longer a need for the services of Herman and the co-operation was ended and Herman had to go and look for another job.
Extract from the Official Journal of Argentina (February 1906) |
Later, Herman started working as a professor of Chemistry at the University of Montevideo in Uruguay. Both Buenos Aires and Montevideo are capital cities on opposite shores of the Rio de la Plata which forms part of the border between Argentina and Uruguay. Herman died in Montevideo from hepatitis, leaving behind his wife and their two children, Bertrand and Robert Van de Venne. I don't know exactly when he died, but it must have no earlier than 1915, since he published results of a scientific study in that year.
In a previous post I added pictures of Marieke with her sister Alice in Nice and Monte Carlo. Here is a picture of Marieke with two other sisters, Clothilde and Helene. I think this picture was taken in Belgium, but it could have been in England as well.
After the death of her first husband, Marieke got married to a barrister called Adolphe Stellfeld, a son of fur merchants. I was told that Adolphe was working in Antwerp, so my guess is that Adolphe and Marieke also lived in the Antwerp region.
In a previous post I added pictures of Marieke with her sister Alice in Nice and Monte Carlo. Here is a picture of Marieke with two other sisters, Clothilde and Helene. I think this picture was taken in Belgium, but it could have been in England as well.
Three sisters (from left to right) Clothilde, Marieke and Helene |
After the death of her first husband, Marieke got married to a barrister called Adolphe Stellfeld, a son of fur merchants. I was told that Adolphe was working in Antwerp, so my guess is that Adolphe and Marieke also lived in the Antwerp region.
Adolphe Stellfeld |
Marieke Brusten |
Eventually, Marieke didn't live to be very old as she died already in 1930, aged approximately 51.
Grave of Marieke Brusten in Antwerp (1930) |
Robert Van de Venne married four years after Marieke had died, in 1934. I don't know what his wife's name was. On the below picture, taken at Robert's wedding day, Adolphe Stellfeld is holding the train of the brides' dress.