Death of Marie Bodenstein
My mother was always conscience of her figure and well-groomed
Amanzimtoti’s elegant ‘lady’ Marie Bodenstein (96) died on Sunday, 8 July. Nicknamed ‘the Queen Mother’ by many who knew her, Marie was always the picture of elegance.
She was born in Klerksdorp in 1921, as the second eldest of 10 children. Only two of her siblings are still alive.
Marie married Stoffel on 3 May 1939 and they lived in Bellair, before moving to Toti in the 1970s. They had five children – Ria Visser (76), Neels (74) who lives in Ramsgate, Koos (72) who lives in Hillary, the well-known late homeopath Irma Schutte, and Stoffel (63) who lives in Rocky Bay.
Marie worked at The Hub selling handbags, before setting up a stall selling scratch cards in front of OK Bazaars. She was a longtime member of Sweetwaters Church and an hononary member of Weigh-Less.
“My mother was always conscience of her figure and well-groomed,” said Ria. “If she had to pop out for milk, she would not leave the house without doing her hair, putting on lipstick and perfume. She was always so smartly dressed.”
Marie lived at Mooihawens for many years and was bed-ridden for the last seven. “She never had a bedsore in those seven years, the care was so good. She was never sick and never took any medication. On Sunday morning all the Mooihawens morning staff gathered around my mother’s bed and sang to her. I thank all the staff, especially D floor, for the wonderful care they gave her.
My mother was religious and the most caring mother to us children. She was kind and always wanted peace. She didn’t like fights, especially between us children, and she was strict. She taught me to always keep a clean house and be well-groomed. She didn’t speak ugly about anyone and was a hard worker. She taught us manners and to love God. She was one of a kind.”
A memorial service for Marie takes place at Mooihawens on Thursday, 12 July at 10am.
