Mons. Gaenswein with his parents in happier times.
GG gives thanks for his Mom
at funeral rite in Riedern
Translsted from
Oct. 25, 2009
I tried to go directly to the source Angela gives - the Suedkurier newspaper with local news from the Riedern am Wald hometown of Mons. Gaenswein, but the latest news they have online dates back to 10/21/09 when they reported briefly on his mother's death.
Last Friday, Mons. Georg Gaenswein celebrated the funeral Mass for his mother Gertrud in the same parish church which last August was the center of celebrations for the silver jubilee of his ordination as a priest.
Gertrud Gaenswein was very active in the parish of St. Leogar for more than 60 years, and her sudden death Tuesday at the age of 78 has certainly brought grief to the town of Ridern am Wald as much as to her family.
Speaking for his four siblings, the Pope's private secretary said, "It is very said to lose our mother so suddenly," but the children made sure that her last rites were marked by gratitude.
She had raised her children in love and faith. "For us she was a living model every day," her son said in tribute, and from her faith, she drew the strength to face difficult times, such as the serious illness of her husband, who has to be cared for in a nursing home.
"Her life and religious activities were the exterior form of what was within," her son continued, recalling how just a few months ago, she had celebrated with him, full of joy, at the very same church.
According to the regional newspaper
Suedkurier, among the friends of Mons. Ganeswein who came from the Vatican for the funeral were Mons. Ettore Balestrato, underrsecretary to Mons. Mamberti for foreign relations, and Archbishop Mauro Piacenza.
Silence fell on the congregation when Benedict XVI's message of condolence was read. The Pope said he was struck by the sudden loss, recalling that he had met with her last July when her son marked the actual anniversary of his ordination with a Mass in one of the Vatican churches.
Here is what the Suedkurier reported on Oct. 21 about Mrs. Gaenswein's death, translated from the German:
Gertrud Gänswein, the mother of the Pope's private secretary Mons. Georg Gänswein, died unexpectedly yesterday, Oct. 20, in Rieder am Wald.
Her sister was visiting her because she had called to say she felt unwell. After a few minutes, she collapsed in her sister's arms, apparently of sudden heart failure. The emergency doctor could only pronounce her dead.
Last August, she had shared her prominent son's Silver Jubilee as a priest with great pride and joy.