The rainbow never sets

sacrifice one's life and blood for the Americans. What do you think?" These rumours were not true. Very soon after this she must have become ill and had to go to the Halberstadt hospital, where she died from pneumonia on 20 February 1952, a day before her 85th birthday. I was not able to attend her funeral, which was held on 23 February by Pastor Siegfried Begrich. Her grave is next to Oma Beyme's in the church yard in Emersleben.

Oma had meant a great deal to me. She was the kindest person I had known. She would never say anything bad about anybody, or gossip. Her upbringing in Antwerp was that of a patrician lady, who had learnt about entertaining people in her home, about running a household, but this did not include cooking or such mundane work. She never learnt it either later on in her life. She was intelligent, well read and interested in talking about music, the arts, and literature. She had a deep faith and I don't remember her ever missing church, unless there were good reasons. Her love to us as her grand-children was unstinting, selfless and without bounds. We trusted her completely. When Opa would tease us, we would always go to Oma and check whether what he had said was true. She would never tell us a lie. While in Emersleben, I particularly enjoyed a wonderful relationship with her. Coming home from school, I would go into her room, and we would talk for a long time together, about things at school, or about friends or matters that concerned me. She would always listen to me and have time for me. Looking back over all those years, I realise that I had a deeper relationship with Oma than I had with Mutter. With Mutter I would often clash, but never with Oma. Oma was very selfless and modest in her needs. She never made demands. Typical of her character is her 'Last Will and Wish' dated September 1947:

"To my beloved sons and daughters. I would like to ask you to consider these my last wishes, provided you consider them just and correct; but you are free to alter them according to your consideration.

I bequeath to Alfred & Ilse: the silver box which stands under my bed, the fur coat and all jewellery except those mentioned below. (Margaret has already received her portion).

Werner & Margaret: the complete coffee and tea set with the large tray. The silver fox fur stole.

Bernd: a set of 6 large and 6 small silver cutlery together with the serving spoons and forks (all engraved S.K.)

Wolf Dieter: the small silver tray, 12 coffee spoons, 6 cake forks and spoons.

Gerda: my (gold watch, the silver bowl which we received for our golden wedding) this was crossed out and replaced with: chain of pearls, the broach with the horse shoe and pearls, 6 cake forks and spoons.

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