I need help locating a German Grave

[Raysgirl]

I really  hope someone can help me locate my cousins grandmother's grave in the Sterkrade, Oberhausen region of Germany. Her name was Hedwig Hess she died on the 20th April 1961. My Cousin said the cemetery is called VEG but I haven't managed to locate this cemetery  on find a grave or on google.  They are going to Germany in 2weeks and would like to visit Hedwig's grave.. Her husband was called Hans and their daughter was Anneliese Hedwig Hess b1913 Baden Wurttemberg. This is all the information I have to go on. Thank you Anne

[dublin1850]

Do you know was she Catholic or Protestant?

[dublin1850]

Perhaps one of the volunteers on this site could help, since time is of the essence: https://www.raogk.org/lookups/region/germany/

[Raysgirl]

Thank youDublin 1850 for your replies, I am not sure about her religion, I would think Protestant but not 1000% sure. I will try your link for any volunteers that might be able to help. Thank you Anne

[Raysgirl]

Hello Dublin1850 I have been  in touch with a Volunteer in Germany and the graves are re used if the lease runs out , so she has given me a number to contact the regions graves commission to  see if the grave still exists. Regards anne

[BelgianAncestry]

If it's really "VEG" you're looking for: that is a so-called "Volkseigenes Gut" (People-Owned Property) which was a kind of state-owned farm in the former German Democratic Republic. Although they managed agricultural land, not cemeteries, a cemetery may have been nearby, or surrounded by the property. Normally a VEG would have its own name like VEG Kaltenhausen.   

[Raysgirl]

Belgian Ancestry Help sorry I have only just seen your reply, that is interesting what you said about "VEG" as far as I know they haven't another name attached to VEG.  I will Pass this information on. I think they will find out more when they get to Germany I'm sure some local people will know where the burial ground is . Thank you regards anne

[davecapps]

Hi Anne,

German privacy laws (Personenstandsgesetz) protect records for the following periods:

Births 110 years
Marriages 80 years
Deaths 30 years

Within this period all records are kept in the registry office
When these periods elapse, records are sent to the local archive.

Therefore death records from, Sterkrade 1961, are now in the
Stadtarchiv in Oberhausen

They will most certainly be able to help.
 
contact
Stadtarchiv Oberhausen
Eschenstraße 60
46049 Oberhausen
Tel.: 0208 3095209-0
Fax: 0208 3095209-39
E-Mail: stadtarchiv@oberhausen.de

opening hours
Monday - closed
Tuesday -09.00 - 15.00
Wednesday - Groups
Thursday - 09.00 - 18.00
Friday - closed

regards
Dave

[Karen McDonald]

Hi Anne,

I've been doing a little research on your behalf. 

The authorities in Oberhausen/Kerkrade have no idea what "VEG" could mean. There is definitely not a cemetery with that name.

As BelgianAncestry mentioned, VEG could mean Volkseigenes Gut. I can't see this being relevant in Oberhausen, though - it's a long way from the former GDR.

If granny died in Sterkrade, she could have been buried in one of a number of cemeteries (one municipal and five religion-dependent).

Apparently, there is no central database for 1961(!). I'd like to check that further, though.

Also, the graves are only kept for 20 years, unless the family extend the "lease". If nobody from the family did this, the grave will have been reappointed. (So much for the famous German "Totenruhe" - not disturbing the dead...  )

Unfortunately, there is a good chance that Granny Hedwig's grave is no longer there.

I'll see what else I can find out, though.

Best regards,
Karen
in Wolfenbüttel