Mabel Jackson nee Geldert; Victim of the Spanish Flu

Question

Remembering How the Spanish Flu touched our Family

How does a person express grief for a personal tragedy that happened more than a century ago? I have carried this single surviving photo of my grandfather's first wife, Mable Jackson (nee Geldert) for many years. They married in 1912 but in 1918 Mabel died of the Spanish Flu. We still have my grandfather's journal with the note he wrote in the margin, "Dear Mabel died." 

 Mabel Jackson. Location: Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. Date: ca.1917.

Click here for the image details page or here for the full-sized version (2070 x 1978).

Mabel was only 28 years old when she died. The death registration indicates that her illness lasted only 10 days. It was influenza, leading to pneumonia.

Eventually, my grandfather would remarry and have a large family and a very good life. But this photo always reminds me of the personal nature of the tragedy so many experienced during that terrible epidemic. Some day I hope to lay flowers at Mabel's grave in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia because she is not forgotten.

Thanks for listening. Jonathan

Answer 1

I manage a profile [[Rankin-4972|Herbert Edward Rankin (1887-1918)]], who died at sea, en route to France, of the Flu Endemic.  I hope to expand his story, at a later date.  These stories that resound so poignantly, today, are important to tell.  Thank you, Mark