The Legacy of My Saintly Parents

By Ann van Niekerk – A priest I knew often said: “There are saints among you, right here, sitting in the pews  — perhaps even the person to your left or right. Saints walk among us every day.” It is true. I believe my late parents, John and Reina Coetzee, were indeed saints.

My parents touched many lives. Throughout their marriage, they faced many challenges, including the heartbreaking loss of two children within a year of each other. They faced these with exemplary faith.

I grew up in Riemvasmaak, a place in the Northern Cape that felt like it was situated between somewhere and nowhere. Today Riemvasmaak is a heritage destination with its hot springs and vibrant outdoor life. But once it was a Catholic mission, bustling with religious and priests in a small, close-knit community — with no running water, electricity, shops, or telecommunication. The nearest town to us was Kakamas, 50km away by gravel road.

Life was challenging, but we were content and lived out our Catholic faith daily. We attended Mass every morning and prayed the rosary at sunset. The church was a mere two-minute walk from our home, and next to it was the Catholic school. During Lent, we observed strict fasting and praying, and we knew that after Palm Sunday, all loud music was forbidden until after the Easter Vigil.

In November, we started with Mass at the graveyard, and every evening, led by our parents, we followed in a rosary procession from the church to the cemetery, praying for the souls in purgatory. This kind of teaching never leaves your mind, and that is also the way we have tried to raise our children.

Three sets of twins

My father hailed from Namaqualand, while my mother was from South West Africa (now Namibia). They married when Mamma was still a teenager, a beautiful young woman, on the feast of the Sacred Heart. A German priest presented them with a large statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which still stands in their bedroom. They had nine children, including three sets of twins. My father was a teacher, and my mother a homemaker who also assisted at school when needed.

Our parents were pillars of strength in the community. Many priests from abroad, especially from the United States, came to Riemvasmaak, and it was Dad’s task to teach them Afrikaans. One such priest was the late Fr Robert Hindley OSFS, then a young missionary from the US. I also recall priests like Fr Veillet from France, Fr Harvey from the US, Fr Galiazzo from Italy, and many local priests, like Frs Owies, Oppel and Simon.

Growing up as staunch Catholics, we were taught to show respect to the priests, Sisters and Brothers. Dad was the principal and had nuns and brothers as teachers. My Sub A teacher was Sr Henrietta da Chantal, and Sr Leonie de Gonzaga taught my twin brother. Sr Leonie is now at the convent in Koelenhof in Stellenbosch.

A true family man

The story of Bl Benedict Daswa resonates with me because he, like my father, was a teacher who lived his faith deeply. Thanks be to God, my father was not martyred as Bl Benedict was. Despite the challenges of raising nine children on his income alone, Dad did so with unconditional love. We received equal opportunities for higher education: four of us became teachers, and I became a professional nurse.

We didn’t own a car, so Dad often walked for miles to find a goat for meat. At the end of the month, Dad would hitch a ride to Kakamas for groceries. Like Bl Benedict, the dedication to his family was extraordinary.

Mamma stayed home, and I came to truly appreciate her role only after her passing. She and Dad were a perfect match, both spiritually and in their love for each other.

Mamma started the first Legion of Mary in Riemvasmaak and was a devoted soldier of Mary for 67 years. Of course, my siblings and I also became junior legionaries. My parents walked many miles to do evangelising works as Legionaries of Mary, by doing home visitations.

Both were deeply involved in parish life, from assisting with catechism to organising memorable Corpus Christi processions to organising bazaars to support the church. Mamma was a proclaimer of the Word, a dedicated sacristan, a loyal member of the Pioneer society, and sang in the choir. She also served as the community’s “nurse”, helping with medical issues, consulting her big book of medicine. Some people even brought their chickens for healing!

A trustworthy and real helping hand to the priests, Dad led many Communion services in the absence of the priest and was in charge of many burials. He was later ordained a deacon, a role he fulfilled with great dedication. He was awarded the Bene Merenti medal by Pope John Paul II.

In 1973, we moved to Upington, where Dad became the principal of the Catholic school and continued his Legion of Mary work.

A serene death

When Dad was diagnosed with cancer in 1990, Mamma was heartbroken. Despite this, his suffering became a sacred experience for both them and for us, their children. We never heard our father complain. When Dad departed in serene peace on April 23, 1991, he was surrounded by family and Fr Hindley. Mamma passed away suddenly, while sitting on her stoep, on June 23, 2015, at the age of 80. Till her final moments, she was devoted to her Legion work.

Mamma and Dad’s legacy is one of profound faith and service. They were respected and loved by many, and people in Riemvasmaak still remember them. Their lives teach us to always put God first, to pray fervently, and to live humbly. Their example inspires us to continue their work and pass their teachings on to future generations.

I have followed in my mother’s footsteps in another way: after my pilgrimage to Ngome in 2018, where I experienced a profound spiritual encounter, I agreed to start a Legion of Mary praesidium in Kraaifontein, Cape Town.

Published in the November 2024 issue of The Southern Cross