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Lifelong loyalty: The moving story of Anni Haentjes from Vötting
Learn the moving life story of Anni Haentjes from Freising, who read the Tagblatt for over 60 years and left behind important art objects.
Lifelong loyalty: The moving story of Anni Haentjes from Vötting
The life story of Anni Haentjes, who died in Cologne at the end of August 2025, ends in a moving chapter about connection and home. Born Hubensteiner, she originally came from Vötting, but her roots always remained part of her life. Anni lived in the cathedral city from her early adulthood and was a loyal reader of the Freisinger Tagblatt, which she had subscribed to for over 60 years to keep in touch with her homeland.
Anni's story is characterized by a rich family life and personal challenges. Growing up on a farm among seven siblings, she experienced an eventful childhood that was overshadowed by her mother's early death from tuberculosis in 1936. After these difficult times, she moved to Cologne to live with her sister and found a job at the tax office while she married Paul Haentjes in 1954.
The connection to home
The family remembers Anni's wedding gift particularly fondly: her husband Paul gave her a subscription to the Freisinger Tagblatt. This remained an integral part of her life. Even Freising's coat of arms found its place in a window of their shared house. Over the years, until she became ill, Anni leafed through the pages of the paper every day to stay connected to her homeland.
Her daughter, Dorothee Haentjes-Holländer, is now tasked with preserving her mother's legacy. She plans to hand over four sacred art objects to the parish in Vötting, which were of great importance to Anni. These include two reliquaries, a figure of Christ and a statue of the Holy Spirit, which had a special place in her home.
Insights into Anni's life and legacy
Over the last years of her life, Anni traveled regularly to her old home, most recently in 2016. In addition to handing over the art objects, Dorothee is considering writing down her mother's life story. She not only wants to capture the memories, but also celebrate Anni's deep desire for connection with her origins.
In a completely different part of the world, a surprising story is causing a stir. In Buffalo, USA, MaryBeth Lewis, 68, is currently fighting for custody of her twins, who are living in foster care after a failed attempt at a surrogate. Coverage of her case is on the site House & Whips and tells of a turbulent life full of challenges. MaryBeth, who wanted even more children through IVF despite an already large family of 13, is now facing legal trouble after cheating on her husband to enforce her wishes. The twins, born under tragic circumstances, will remain in care until further notice.
Whether in Cologne or Buffalo, the stories of Anni Haentjes and MaryBeth Lewis vividly show how strongly the desire for family and home is anchored in people's lives - even if life doesn't always go according to plan.