Helen Schweitzer-Bresslau

Helene Schweitzer-Bresslau

Mrs. Helene Schweitzer died in Zurich on the 1st of June 1957 in a hospital to which she was taken urgently on her return from Lambaréné. Thus ended 44 years during which she gave all her energy and devotion to the work of her husband.

Mrs. Schweitzer was not a native of the Alsace, but adopted it as her second home. Even though she worked in the famous hospital of her husband she remained very humble.

She was born in Berlin on the 25th of January 1879 and came to Alsace when she was eleven, following her father who taught history at the University of Strasbourg. She received her education in this city and became interested in social problems. Several social institutions testify to her activity and initiative.

While inspecting the orphanage at Strasbourg, she met Albert Schweitzer, whose lectures, concerts and sermons already attracted students from a wide area. She became his confidante during the ten years when he was making up his mind which way his path led, and enthusiastically endorsed his decision to take medical help to equatorial Africa. They were married in 1912, and on Good Friday 1913 they left Europe together to start their new life, which was to become an example to the whole world and which was to occupy the rest of her life.

In his book "At the edge of the Primeval forest", Albert Schweitzer tells of his first African experiences, when his wife was his only support. In his autobiography, published in 1958 by Albin Michel, he also relates how much the work, the climate and the long internment during the First World War took its toll and damaged Mrs. Schweitzer's health. Their daughter Rhena was born in 1919, on January 14th, her father's 44th birthday. Having to be careful about her health, Mrs. Schweitzer went to live for some years in Koenigsfeld, a small town in the Black Forest famous for its healthy climate. Her stay in the mountain resort was frequently interrupted by journeys around Europe, where she organized conferences to promote the work in Africa which always remained central to her thoughts. She constantly maintained extensive correspondence with many friends, finding new ones and consolidating links to old ones. Once she traveled to the United States to see a doctor.

She was in Europe in 1939 when the Second World War started. Her daughter was married to a Frenchman, Mr. Eckert, who was an organ maker living in Paris. So she joined the young married couple in Paris during the winter season. Later they moved to Lyon, and then to Zurich. Thus, these three kept together during that uncertain, agonizing and difficult period.

In 1941 she undertook a dramatic journey to Africa to be with her husband and assist him through the war years, enduring these hardships with great courage and indomitable energy.

Her ardent spirit and great culture and sensitivity enabled her to follow Schweitzer's work very closely, and not only in Africa. indeed her knowledge and education in the fields of music, philosophy and theology were considerable. She accompanied Schweitzer during some of his more important journeys, i.e. when he went to Aspen in the United States and when he received the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo. One of the best known pictures shows him with his wife on the balcony of the hotel in Norway while a procession of admirers with torches passes below them to pay homage to their guests.

Returning once more to Gabon, Mrs. Schweitzer's health again worsened. She needed all her energy to survive in the tropical climate. It required miraculous determination for her to remain there. She refused to accept the inevitable. Eventually she flew back by plane to avoid the tiresome voyage by steamboat. A nurse, Tony van Leer stayed with her during the trip. On the last part of the journey between Paris and Zurich, which was made by train, Mrs. Schweitzer was accompanied by her daughter Mrs. Rhena Eckert. A room was already booked in a hospital, but her body was in such a frail condition that medical help could no longer bring relief. She died peacefully on Saturday the 1st of June after having seen her four grandchildren.

The funeral was held at the Crematorium in Zurich in the presence of a large gathering of Lambaréné friends from all over the world.

The ashes of Mrs. Schweitzer are buried in Lambaréné next to those of Miss Emma Haussknecht.

Rhena Schweitzer-Miller

9. July 2001