Johanetta Maria Ettwein (1725-1789)
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Tuesday, September 8, 1789
Johanetta Maria Ettwein, born Kimbel, the wife of our Br.
Johannes Etwein, was born on September 26, 1725 at Stachenburg in the
earldom of Sayn in Westfalia. Her father Peter Kimbel died in the year
1741. In his final hours he expressed the wish that she would go to the
Moravians [Brüder-Gemeine] and this was also her own desire,
since she had been [spiritually] awakened from youth on. In the year 1742
she came to Marienborn and in the following year she requested reception
into—and [the privilege of] enjoying the Holy Communion with—the
congregation. In the year 1745 she was inducted into the office of Acoluth.
In the year 1746 she was united in holy marriage with Br. Johannes Etwein,
with whom she soon traveled to England by way of Holland, where in Zeist
she was consecrated a deaconess. In the following years they made various
journeys through Germany and in 1750 they returned to England. In the
year 1754 they came here to Pennsylvania and traveled to North Carolina
in 1759. She accompanied her dear husband on many journeys in the service
of the Savior in this land; when she remained at home she also put her
heart into sharing what he had to do. According to brethren and sisters
and strangers alike, he was a faithful servant, particularly in relation
to the pilgrims [i.e., traveling evangelists] and visitors, for whom she
lived. When, at the beginning of this year, her dear husband left for
a synod meeting in Herrnhut she had no desire to accompany him, even though
she had been invited to do so, just as her husband did not want to take
her with him. But she acquiesced in a child-like manner, allowing him
to go. Early in the year a tightness in the chest began to manifest itself
which gradually turned into dropsy, against which even the strongest medications
didn’t work. Finally, she herself realized that she would not see
her dear husband again, she surrendered to the will of God, and she also
trusted in the Savior to console her husband. Thus she passed away in
quiet peace on the above-noted date at 11 in the morning. She was aged
63 years, 11 days, and 13 days. Of her 5 children she left behind 2 sons
and 2 daughters, and also 4 grandchildren.
Transcription and translation by Otto Dreydoppel, Jr.
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