Hendrina Margaretha (Lubbe) Coetzee (1879 - 1964)

Born 14 Dec 1879 in Ottosdal, Wolmaransstad, Transvaal, South Africa

Ancestors

Wife of Gert Ernst Johannes Coetzee — married 19 Aug 1902 in Lichtenburg, Transvaal, South Africa

Descendants

Died 4 Jul 1964 at age 84 in Ottosdal, Wolmaransstad, Transvaal, South Africa

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Biography

Hendrina is in 1879 gebore. Sy is in 1964 oorlede. // Hendrina was born in 1879. She passed away in 1964.

Uit haar lewe // From her life

Hendrina Margaretha Coetzee, née Lubbe en algemeen bekend as Drienie, se pa, Gert Johannes Alwyn Lubbe, was die eienaar van Lakensvlei 168, Distrik Wolmaransstad en sy het by hom geërf. Haar ma, na wie sy vernoem is, het ook 'n "½ leningsplaats van Lakenvallei" van 2 006 morg besit, wat sy aan haar kinders, aan die einde van haar lewe sou nalaat.

As jong meisie het Drienie op Lakensvlei perdgery en geswem, wat dogters daardie tyd nie mog gedoen het nie.

Later was sy die energieke hardwerkende vrou, wat almal geïnspireer het om saam te werk met kollektes en vendusies op die dorp. Sy het aan talle verenigings behoort: VLU, Vrouefederasie en Vroue-sendingbond. (Sy het 'n sendingbussie tot met haar afsterwe gehad). Waar Drienie gevat het, het sy raak gevat. Noem maar op: straatkollektes, vendusies met verversings vir die kopers en verkopers – fondse vir die Landbou Unie by wie haar man betrokke was. Drienie het ook vir die Nasionale Party hard gewerk om die 1948-verkiesing te wen.

"Solank jy jou kinders met een kombers kan toemaak het jy nie moeilikheid nie" was Drienie se woorde. Hennie was die oudste kind en was 10 jaar oud April 1915, toe Hansie Desember 1916, as die jongste kind van die gesin, gebore is. Daar is 8 kinders in die 10 jaar gebore! Drienie het haar hande vol gehad want 7 van haar 8 kinders het byvoorbeeld gelyk masels gekry. "As die jongste een 21 jaar oud is, dan kan ek gaan, dankie Dominee" het sy eenkeer aan die predikant gesê.

Nie een van Drienie se kinders het ouer as sy geword nie: 84 jaar 6 maande. Haar oudste kind was Hennie, gebore in 1905 en oorlede in 1988 en het 83 jaar en 6 maande gelewe, die langste van Drienie se kinders.

Lakensvlei se plaashuis en werf het aan die hoofpad gelê, met 'n indraai na regs vanaf Wolmaransstad na Ottosdal. Links op die plaaswerf het Bloekombome in 'n ry gestaan en verder links was die plaashuis van Gerrie en Drienie Coetzee.

Die oop stoep wat aan die groot pad se kant, of westekant was, het aaneen om die huis geloop na die suidekant met 'n lae muurtjie. Daar was 'n ingang en voordeur aan die westekant na die sitkamer, wat selde gebruik is. 'n Ingang en deur aan die suidekant het na die lang gang en die agterste slaapkamer gelei, waar gaste gewoonlik geslaap het. Hierdie slaapkamer was langs die noordestoep, wat met gaas toe was. (Dis waar die biltong en varings ook was.)

Direk links van die ingang na die gang was Sarie se kamer en dan volg die sitkamer ook links. Regs was die eetkamer met genoeg plek vir groot etes. Direk links vanuit die eetkamer was Drienie se slaapkamer en 'n bêrekamer. Vanuit die teenoorgestelde kant van die eetkamer het die spens en kleiner kuierkamer na regs gegaan, met 'n venster wat oor die werf uitgekyk het. Baie ure is hier saam spandeer en gekuier.

Die kombuis het uit hierdie kuierkamer gevolg met 'n stoof wat deur stronke verhit is en het 'n buitedeur na die rondawel op die werf gehad. Die stoof het sommer hierdie hele area verhit. Later is 'n buitekamer en badkamer by die systoep aan die oostekant aangebou, verbind met 'n buitedeur na die eetkamer toe.

Drienie het haar hele lewe lank op Lakensvlei gewoon. Sy het daardie jare lang rokke gedra. Dit was donker rokke gemaak deur haar dogter Hennie – met 'n voorskoot bo-oor. Drienie het in 'n stoel in haar kamer gesit en die huishulpe Kona en Kootjie het gehelp met waarmee sy besig was. Sy het naaldwerk gedoen, voorskote gemaak en hangers met skuimrubber en materiaal oorgetrek. Drienie het moeilik beweeg en het sittende op 'n stoel vanuit haar kamer die huishouding bedryf. Vanuit die kamer het 'n klein vertrek gegaan wat mens 'n stoorkamer kan noem. Die meel en eiers is hier gebêre; waarskynlik ook biltong en beskuit. In haar later jare was sy ʼn semi-invalide en kon nie meer uit die kamer kom nie. Dit het haar nie gekeer om met die hulp van die twee huishulpe, konfyt op die stoof te kook nie. Sy het voorskooie gemaak en hangers oorgetrek. Sy kon ook die lekkerste vetkoek bak.

Op Lakensvlei is Drienie in 1964 op ouderdom van 84 jaar en 6 maande oorlede. Sarie, wat 'n verpleegster was, het tot die einde na haar ma omgesien.

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Hendrina Margaretha Coetzee, née Lubbe and commonly known as Drienie, was a daughter of Gert Johannes Alwyn Lubbe, the owner of Lakensvlei 168, District Wolmaransstad and she inherited from him. Her mother, after whom she was named, also owned a "½ leningsplaats van Lakenvallei" of 2,006 morgens, which she would leave to her children at the end of her life.

As a young girl, Drienie rode horses and swam on Lakensvlei, which girls were not allowed to do at that time.

Later she was the energetic hardworking woman, who inspired everyone to cooperate with collections and sales in the town. She belonged to numerous associations: VLU, Women's Federation and Women's Missionary Union. (She had a mission box until her death). You name it: street collections, sales with refreshments for the buyers and sellers - funds for the Agricultural Union in which her husband was involved. Drienie also worked hard for the National Party to win the 1948 election.

"As long as you can cover your children with one blanket you have no problem" were Drienie's words. Hennie was the eldest child and was 10 years old in April 1915, when Hansie was born in December 1916, as the youngest child of the family. There were 8 children born in the 10 years! Drienie had her hands full because, for example, 7 of her 8 children got measles at the same time. "If the youngest one is 21 years old, then I can go, thank you Reverend" she once told the minister.

None of Drienie's children lived to be older than her: 84 years 6 months. Her eldest child was Hennie, born in 1905 and died in 1988 and lived 83 years and 6 months, the longest of Drienie's children.

Lakensvlei's farmhouse and wharf lay on the main road, with a turn to the right from Wolmaransstad to Ottosdal. To the left of the farmyard stood a row of Bluegum trees and further to the left was the farmhouse of Gerrie and Drienie Coetzee.

The open porch that was on the main road's side, or west side, ran continuously around the house to the south side with a low wall. There was an entrance and front door on the west side to the sitting room, which was rarely used. An entrance and door on the south side led to a long corridor and the back bedroom, where guests usually slept. This bedroom was next to the north porch, which was covered with mesh. (That's where the biltong and ferns were too.)

Directly to the left of the entrance to the corridor was Sarie's room and then the living room also follows to the left. To the right was the dining room with enough space for large meals. Directly to the left of the dining room was Drienie's bedroom and a storage room. From the opposite end of the dining room, the pantry and smaller sitting room went to the right, with a window overlooking the yard. Many hours were spent here together and visiting.

The kitchen followed from this sitting room with a log-heated stove and had an external door to the rondavel on the yard. The stove heated this entire area. Later, an outside room and bathroom were added to the side porch on the east side, connected by an outside door to the dining room.

Drienie lived on Lakensvlei all her life. She wore long dresses all those years. They were dark dresses made by her daughter Hennie - with an apron over the top. Drienie sat in a chair in her room and the domestic workers, Kona and Kootjie, helped with what she was doing. She sewed, made aprons and covered hangers with foam rubber and fabric. Drienie had difficulty moving and ran the household from her room, sitting on a chair. From the room went a small room that one could call a storage room. The flour and eggs were stored here; probably also biltong and rusks. In her later years, she was a semi-invalid and could no longer get out of the room. This did not stop her from cooking jam on the stove with the help of the two domestic workers. She made aprons and draped hangers. She could also bake the most delicious fat cake.

Drienie died at Lakensvlei in 1964 at the age of 84 years and 6 months. Sarie, who was a nurse, took care of her mother until the end.

Sources

• From family history document VOORGESLAG: LAKENSVLEI EN ONS MENSE (ANCESTORS: LAKENSVLEI AND OUR PEOPLE) compiled by Hina Hamman and received by email from her on 19 August 2020.
• From FamilySearch the marriage register attached.