Annetta “Netty” Viola Greensfelder

Annetta “Netty” Viola Geiger Greensfelder

Birth: June 16, 1872 in Pittsburgh or Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA

Death: August 26, 1908 (age 36) in Victoria, B.C.

Biography:
Annetta or Netty, grew up in Pennsylvania. Her father was American born and made a living as a grinder at the steel mill. Her mother was born in Ireland. Nettie was the youngest of 5 children.

The 1901 census revealed that Nettie and her husband Henry were residing in the Gutmann home. In January, 1901, Nettie’s cousin, Adelaide Rosetta Hyams Gutmann died of septicemia leaving behind her husband Moritz, a toddler, and a two month old infant son.

Not long after Adelaide’s death Moritz and the children moved to Seattle, Nettie and Henry moved into their own home on Pandora Street. Henry was a watchmaker and later expanded to include jewellery.

The couple had no children. Nettie died of cancer following a two year illness,.

Gravesite Details: Row F – Plot 8

The grave includes the logo of the Woodmen of the World.
The Woodmen of the World (WOW). Started in the 1880’s, WOW was a fraternal organization which provided life and burial insurance for it’s members. Until the 1920’s members qualified for the monument program which entitled the widow of a WOW member to receive $100.00 to help defray the cost of gravestones. Including the WOW logo on the gravestone was required. The tree stump, symbolizes that the the life of the breadwinner of the family was cut short. The olive branches represents harmony and neighbourly cooperation. These letters “C” and “O” stand for Canadian Order. The Latin phrase, Dum tacet clamat translates as “Though silent, he speaks”; meaning that the person buried there lead a worthy life.

Formed in Victoria in 1902, Columbia Circle No. 1, was the first WOW Ladies Circle in Canada. Membership allowed their male relative to purchase an insurance policy on the women for $1000.00 and guaranteed a grave stone valued at $100.00. The Ladies Circle was active until circa 1910.

In an effort to attract members to WOW, the Ladies Circle was responsible for serving refreshments at the meetings, organizing excursions, and entertainment including talent shows featuring members’ children. In 1906 Nettie was part of the Arrangements Committee which organized a successful fundraising dance held at the newly renovated Victoria Hall (formerly the Hebrew Ladies Hall) beside the synagogue building. She was still a member of the Victoria chapter of the Ladies Circle at the time of her death.

Inscription:
In Memory
of
Annetta V
Greensfelder
Born at
Philadelphia, PA
U.S.A.
Jun 16, 1872
Died
Aug 26, 1908

Parents:
Daniel Geiger
Mary Geiger

Spouse:
Henry Greensfelder (1867-1943)