Two for the Road: Waldfischbach

Johanna, Helmut & Hans Bennevart

From Bavaria we traveled to the Palatinate and the true ancestral home, Waldfischbach, where to this day stands the house where Sue’s great, great, and on and on grandfathers lived. Most were carpenters or blacksmiths.

The town probably looks much the same as it did a hundred years ago—just a bit bigger with a few more 20^th century signs and businesses on the main street.

There are a goodly number of family members still living there, but we stay with Edda and Helmut Roschy whose children, Birgit (married to Manfred), Marlys (sig. other, Klaus Peter) and Uli (married to Patrick) and grandchildren, Amelie, Johanna and Max we have gotten to know.

John, Ayla & Edda

Edda, without seeming to break a sweat, managed to prepare incredible German meals for us throughout our stay, often serving 15 or 20 at a time. What gracious hosts are she and Helmut.

Alexander & John

This visit we all missed Peter Roschy, who died two years ago. It was our first visit to Germany without him, and that made us all a little sad, but we will always be so grateful for what he did to bring the families together. On a happier note, Alexander and Stephan, his sons, made a special trip to Waldfischbach to see us. It was good to reminisce about Peter with them as well as catch up on their lives and careers.

Martin, Elsa & Family

Other cousins, Fritz and Hilda with children Volker (married to Brita) and Elka (married to Martin) with grandchildren Phillip, Kevin, Kieren, and Mara (non-German names--guess Martin's country of origin) own and run the local pub.

Edda's Garden

We always have a family gathering there and love eating the the “flammkuchen”, which is kind of like a very thin crust pizza with various topping s. Needless to say, the beer flows at “The Kaiser”.

We spent several beautiful evenings on Edda’s patio complete with small fireplace admiring her amazing garden. She has a green thumb worthy of the Green Giant.

One of the Chagall windows

Marlys was so kind to serve as our tour guide and trip planner--taking over ably the role that Peter had managed before. We toured some places in the area, including Pirmasens, but one of our best memories from this trip will be of Mainz and, especially, St. Stephen’s church where Marc Chagall created nine glorious, very blue stained glass windows when he was in his 90’s.

At St. Stephen's

What a sight to behold! After his death another artist completed many other windows all in blue, so that the entire chapel is bathed in blue light.

Such a lovely and serene place to visit and spend a few moments of quiet reflection.