Von Hunnius Carl-Detlef Woldemar

«u»«b»«i»Salutation to the Dawn «/u» «/b»Look to this day! For it is life, very life of life. In its brief course lie all the verities and realities of your existence: The bliss of growth The glory of action The splendour of beauty, For yesterday is but a dream And tomorrow is only a vision, But today is but a dream And tomorrow is only a vision, But today well lived makes every Yesterday a dream of happiness And every tomorrow a vision of hope. Look well, therefore, to this day! Such is the salutation of the dawn . «b»Carl Detlev von Hunnius «/b»«/i» «b»«i» «/b»«/i» «b»«i»27 January 1921-18 July 2012 Order of Service 2 August 2012 at 11am «/b»Thank you for being with us today. «b»Chapel entry to the music of Aleluia by Taizé «/b»Candle lighting and 1 minute silence «b»«/i»¨ «i»Opening and Tribute by Carl von Hunnius-Son Readings/Tributes by: «/b»«/i»¨«tab»«i»Roswita von Glehn-Family Friend «/i»¨«tab»«i»Steve Rademeyer-Friend and a Great Help «b»«/i»¨ «i»Tribute by«/i» «i»Thomas von Hunnius-Son Music-Morning by Edward Greig Readings/Tributes by: «/b»«/i»¨ «i»Brigette Barclay- Granddaughter «/i»¨ «i»Alexis and Daniel von Hunnius-Granddaughter & Grandson «/i»¨ «i»Nicolette Matthews-Granddaughter «b»«/i»¨ «i»Closing by Thomas von Hunnius-Son Chapel exit to the music of Bach, Air on G String «/b»«/i» Carl Detti von Hunnius - memorial celebration «b»Welcome«/b»: On behalf of the family I welcome you to the memorial and celebration of the life of Carl Detlev von Hunnius - known as Detti and Pappu and Opapa to us. Thank you for coming «b»Tribute: «/b»Today is an occasion for rememberance of Detti / Pappu / Opapa, and saying many of the things we don''t say on other days. For often through the passing days we feel deep down inside, unspoken thoughts of thankfulness and fond admiring memories and pride. And words seem inadequate to express what''s in my heart. Like all of us our Detti had two sides, the good and the bad, the dark and the light, the sad and the glad. But in looking back as I have, over the good and the bad, I am aware of the number of good times that I have had with him for which am grateful.. On the 27«sup»th«/sup» January 1921 Detti was born the eldest son of two sons near Hapsalu in Estonia of the Baltic States, where he grew up into his late teens. He served on the Russian front in the 2«sup»nd«/sup» world war and was wounded there resulting in a long hospitilasation. As he, along with many other people from the Baltic States could not return to their homelandhe found himself in Germany after the war. He worked mainly as a farmhand in various areas and this is where he met my mother. In 1951 they decided to follow an opportunity to immigrate to South Africa. They arrived in Cape Town with only one crate and my expectant mother - a second immigration, a new beginning and they have never left. Round about this time his brother immigrated to Canada and is still there. In 1952 I arrived and in 1956 Tommy, both present here today with parts of their families. At the time of my birth my Father asked my mother an interesting question…..Does he (me) have teeth like him?? Detti was a farm manager in various areas around Johannesburg, Magaliesberg, and Grasmere. When he got tired of getting up at 4 in the morning to milk the cows, not get home before 8 in the evening after putting the same cows ''to bed'' and being called at all hours for whatever needed attention on a farm he decided to move to suburbia, namely Brakpan, in 1961, and stayed there, in the same house that many of us know, until now. In the earlier Brakpan days he sold cars and agricultural machines and at the tender age of 52 he embarked on a medical course and managed to qualify as homeopathic doctor - quite a change from farming and sales!! Although he did not actively practise homeopathy all the time he was always looking for ways to better the lives of others, as his own. He encouraged us to do well at school and partake in sport and boy scouts. He was an enthusiastic boy scout in his youth himself. We visited friends in Johannesburg and Pretoria, some also from the Baltic States. He was quite a highly strung person, at times eccentric and authoritarian, but he always provided and looked out for us. In his way, he always wanted the best for others. He liked structure in his life…liked to have agood plan and be busy and active with things. He liked to give speeches. He faced a number of medical and emotional challenges in his life but often also displayed a sense of humour. Until his last day he was always looking to improve his condition - physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually - he never stopped striving for wellbeing. Throughout his life, and mainly in the second half, he actively and persistently looked for ''life'' answers, initially through the church and later through spiritual means. He often wanted to guide me in life and spiritual matters… tried to show what he believed in…. that there was more to life than met the eye. He wanted us to be happy and content with our lot and also seek out in life what we needed to know. Detti was a very practical person with a ''can do'' attitude to things, to the point of resoling his own shoes, glueing anything that could be glued, like his spectacles, making replacement roof tiles, making a letter scale, making virtually all of our home security, etc. When my mother saw something that we needed to buy in a shop he would have a good look at it and say, ''we can make this ourselves'', and then went ahead and did it. He liked making things, especially if he could use materials that he had, without buying anything. I remember when we boys where still quite young and it was time (according to him) to learn to swim. He made a harness which went around my middle, attached by a rope to a long pole, one push, splash, into the farm dam,and I was swimming!!! Another time when I was ill in bed he made an aeroplane that circled around the ceiling, without buying anything. He made toys for my children when they were young. He built wardrobes, pergolas, stands for us boys to repair our little pedal cars, constructed his intricate security system at home…you name it. I think his practicality came from his upbringing in the remote farm area in Estonia where they always had to make do with what they had, and also he liked the challenge to see if he could actually do something himself. He was an expert and particular Christmas tree picker…the right branch had to be found on a tree, and nowhere else…not bought on a xmas tree market. I think some of the Estonian ways remained in his blood! He also took great effort and pride in decorating the tree and insisted in using real candles. The house nearly burnt down a few times!! He liked to have traditional Christmas celebrations with us singing songs with him playing the piano. He taught us to play the mouth organ… he said it was the best instrument in the world because you could take it with you …anywhere. These are just a few reflections of a man that I have known for 60 years….. A man that I have many memories of….A man with a full life, many experiences and who has left a lasting impression on many of us. Before I close I would like to thank my mother for all the love and support she gave to my father, especially in the latter years when he was so frail. We know that it was due to her dedicated caring that he was able tolive and die comfortably in his own home. There are too many to mention here but on behalf of my mother and the family I would also like to thank a few people for their continued support:- Steve, Rademeyer, Alida Paice,Pam Churcher, Gunda Fischer, Doug and Jo Craig, Kay & Roswita von Glehn, Family Stuemges, to name but a few. I will now hand over to two friends R V G and S R