A GREAT DANISH AMERICAN BIRTHDAY - CHRISTINE HEMMINGSEN

Christine Hemmingsen (January 30, 1840 - August 24, 1884) is remembered as a caring, compassionate, and courageous woman. Her home was open to friends and a mecca for old and young Danes seeking to adjust to the ways of the new world. Sorrows were shared, and joys multiplied by family fellowship. They cared. One day, after a brief illness, a young woman who was a friend of the Hemmingsen’s, died, leaving a bereaved husband and two children. The grief was even greater, as the financial burden of funeral expenses was realized. Christine’s kind heart reacted to their friends grief and problems – but she also acted. She was very much aware of fraternal organizations including the Danish Brotherhood, with “sick and death benefit” as their purpose. But they were for men. And so, motivated by compassion, caring, and concern, she took steps to formally organize Danish women into a funeral benefit society.

[Taken from “Origin of Danish Sisterhood of America and History of Christine Lodge #1” by Millicent Jensen, Member of Christine Lodge #1, April 1, 1983]

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