In June 2023, Don and I had the privilege of joining Lois Ann and Lemar Mast on the Haston/Hiestand Mennonite Heritage Tour in Germany and Switzerland. Our tour days began with a devotional from a tour group member, a prayer, and singing hymns.
The connection to the Hiestands was through Don, whose 6th great-grandfather was Henrich Hiestand, his immigrant ancestor who arrived in North America sometime around 1727. In addition to celebrating Don’s Anabaptist heritage, we also celebrated mine! My mother, Joann (Schantz) Love, descended from Swiss Anabaptists, many of whom lived in the German Districts and Swiss Cantons we visited.
One day, my contribution for the devotion was a poem I wrote and dedicated to my mother and all of my grandmothers I’ve come to know and love, both in person and through my research.
![](https://reneecue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Sarah-Wenger-Sharon-Joann-Love-Marie-Schantz-1958_2-Medium-1024x665.jpg)
A Love Letter to My Grandmothers
Dear Grandmothers,
I want to tell you about my life
What it looks like, what it feels like, how I spend my time but….
I may not be able to adequately reveal the reality of my world.
We are separated by decades, centuries, and many, many miles.
We may not comprehend the nuance and depth in each others’ languages that describe our endeavors.
We may not connect in that way.
Could we even perceive the joys and sorrows of each other’s existence?
How can I explain the abundance of leisure, choices, and conveniences that surround me; that I take for granted?
How do I also depict the inconceivable challenge of eight billion people sharing this one planet?
The inequality, stress, disconnectedness, and busy-ness that leaves too many struggling physically, mentally, financially, and emotionally?
I can’t pretend to know the depths of the sorrow of babies, children, and husbands dying so young and the fortitude you called on to somehow carry on in the face of those tragedies.
How do I express the distance of our extended families? How spread out we are; how we have never lived and worked together and even seldom share a meal?
Can I truly appreciate your deeply structured religious faith while my own is based on individual quiet meditation and questioning?
But there are things that really matter.
And so, let me tell you what is important.
Let me tell you what I would wish to know about
The life of my 4th great-grandchild, if ever there were to be one.
I am loved and I love
My beloved, my children, my family, my friends, my life.
I live with purpose and celebrate everyday.
I learn and create.
I am happy.
My direct maternal line:
Renee Love Cue
Joann Phyllis Schantz 1931-2024
Marie Wenger 1904-1991
Sarah Widmer 1883-1959
Catherine Widmer 1854-1928
Catherine Amstutz 1827-1881
Barbara Gerig 1788-1843
Verena Rich abt 1760-1806
Published in Mennonite Family History April 2024
If you would like more information or need detail about my sources, please contact me at renee@reneecue.com.