The Haunted Mansion Picture

In our family we have a number of portraits of relatives that have been handed down. A few of them are rather large and have thick golden frames. We joke around that they look like portraits that might be seen in The Haunted Mansion at Disneyland. One of them in particular looks scarier than the others. It is oval in shape, and is of an old woman in black with a stern look on her face.

The portrait is of my 3 great grandmother, Teitje Dirks Reitsma. She was born 176 years ago today, on 13 October 1836. I looked it up and it was not on a Friday, but rather Thursday the 13th when she was born. She was, however, married on October 31st, 1863. Her husband was Hendrik Tjeerd Visbeek.

Today this portrait can be seen in one of the guest bedrooms of my parents' house, hanging on the wall opposite the bed, so she can watch you while you sleep.