January 29, 1914 - Meyer's First Yartzeit

One year ago Joe sent the news to Helen that his brother Meyer died suddenly at the young age of 24. That letter can be found on January 28, 1913. That would make this the first yartzeit (Yiddish word for the anniversary of the death of a close relative, on which it is customary to kindle a light and recite the Kaddish) for Meyer. While going through a box of pictures I found this photograph of the headstone in the cemetery. The Hebrew translation on the stone is:

Here Lies:

Meyer Mendl

Son of Dov Ber

He died on the 21^st of Shevet, 5673

(small letters above his name is an acronym that means:)

May His Soul Be Bound Up In Everlasting Life

MEYER MERWIN
SHAPIRO
BORN JAN. 1, 1889
DIED JAN. 29, 1913

Interestingly, Joe wrote Helen on January 28, 1913 about Meyer's passing and the headstone says January 29, 1913. I now believe the discrepancy in dates came about because Meyer most likely died after midnight. In his haste to write Helen he put the date on the letter not thinking about the time. The postmark date is January 29th in the morning.

The grave is in East Haven, CT and I plan on making a trip to that cemetery in the Spring. The site that had this information also indicates that he is in the same cemetery as his father, Barnet Shapiro, my great grandfather.

I will be posting an article that I found tomorrow January 30.