Our Dead

GA 261 — 1 July 1921, Dornach

Eulogy for Lina Schleutermann

Before I come to the subject of our deliberations, I would like to say a few words about the fact that our friend and colleague here on the building site, Mr. Schleutermann, has lost his young wife in the physical plane in these days, and perhaps I may take this as an opportunity to tell you how Dr. Wegman, who was the attending physician in this case, experienced the beautiful end of Mrs. Schleutermann's life on earth.

It was, however, a long and sometimes very painful illness, of the kind that, over a long period of time, ultimately leads to the etheric body detaching from the physical body, which manifests itself in a peculiar kind of drowsiness. In this case, it often happens towards the end, that with the even stronger detachment of the etheric body, a consciousness filled with supersensible content arises, which speaks in all kinds of beautiful images about the tasks of one's own and the earthly existence. And from this point of view, the passing over of the young woman, who was only twenty-four years old, was apparently an extraordinarily uplifting one.

I wanted to mention this to you, my dear friends, because it can be an uplifting thought for the numerous friends who were also present at the funeral this afternoon, and because this thought can be the starting point for those friends who will then receive Mr. Schleutermann back into their ranks when he returns to work here after his pain has been somewhat alleviated. You will then be able to strengthen him with this thought, and he will perhaps find some consolation in the strengthening thoughts you have for him, just as he can really find a great deal of uplifting strength in the beautiful, supersensible thoughts that were the last from his deceased wife during this incarnation on earth. I would ask you, my dear friends, to rise from your seats as a sign that we want to support our friend in his great sorrow.