Maker: Marion Mackay

Panel number: 353

Petition sheet number: 423

Person honouring: A. [Anna] Spierling

Relationship to maker: Great-grandmother

Maria Friederika Anna Lankow (Anna) was born in Hope, Nelson on 8 July 1855, the second daughter of Sophia and Hans Lankow. She had four sisters and two brothers. Her parents and her husband were all born in Germany.

Anna married Gustav (George) Spierling on her 23rd birthday. She and George moved to Wellington soon after their marriage. They lived in Garrett Street for several years before moving to Newtown, where they ran a grocery shop in Adelaide Road. They had nine children but sadly, five of them died in infancy and were buried in Bolton Street cemetery.

The Spierlings owned a number of houses in Drummond Street, Newtown. Number 1 Drummond Street was the family home, called Rostock House, named for the German city where George was born. They were a very hospitable couple and frequently had friends and family from Nelson stay with them – Anna’s mother died of bronchitis in 1911 while staying.

They were also involved in the local Anglican churches. Anna and George were well travelled – they holidayed in Australia on a number of occasions, and toured the UK, Europe, and America twice.

When Anna died in 1940, aged 85, she was a widow with three surviving children and six grandchildren. She was buried at Karori cemetery.

Panel materials: Recycled fabrics. The backing was a pillowcase. Patchwork medallions made from old embroidered doilies sourced from op shops. Petticoats made from old cotton handkerchiefs. Photo and article from newspaper printed on photo fabric.