"Matre devo bhava"
"I see my Lord in my Mother"

The beginning

Mother was born in Aartrijke, on May 10th, 1928.

She was the daughter of late Alidor Coppenolle (10/12/1888 - 21/02/1966)
and late Marie Lingier (03/09/1901 - 11/06/1976).

Her parents were hard workers too. Her mother was running a small farm (some cows), while her father was going to a tile factory on daily base. He took the 6h30 train in the station of Torhout and was heading for Kortrijk, where the factory was located. He went by bicycle from home to the station, every workday of the week (Mo - Sat). It was a trip of about 15 minutes riding, single way.

In the evening, he arrived at about 19h back in the station of Torhout and was home at about 19h15. After having his diner, he helped her wife with the small farm.

Mother has been to school until she was aged 14. Then she stayed home to help her mother, something which was not very exceptional those days (40-ties). It was also the time of the second world war.

Mother has frequently told us stories about how frighten she was when the Germans were attacking the station of Wijnendale. Knowing the station was only a few miles away from their home, that wasn't much of a surprise...

Like that , she has been once so frightened of the attacks and the bombings, she had to shelter in the cellar with all her little brothers and sisters, while my grandfather and grandmother were to the Eucharist. Ever since, my grandparents never went together anymore to the Eucharist, as long as the war lasted...

My Father told me lately that my Mother even has served with one of his aunts for a couple of years. I guess it was Aunt Julie (see further), but I'm not quite sure anymore.

My Mother helped raising lots of her brothers and sisters, together with her Mother. This until she finally left the parental house to start raising a warm and cozy family herself...