The other day I posted Richard DeKorn’s death certificate from Kalamazoo and asked for help with the cause of death. Readers were very helpful, and I’m so appreciative.
I mentioned at the time that Richard’s daughter and Grandpa’s mother, Cora DeKorn Zuidweg (Mrs. Adrian Zuidweg), wasn’t in the register of deaths. Two readers kindly sent me Cora’s death certificate that they found on the Seeking Michigan website.
Cora is a particularly intriguing person to me because Grandpa and Grandma used to tell me that I looked a lot like her, especially with my hair pulled back. Cora always wore her hair up. The first time I saw this picture of Cora I was in my 20s and felt as if I was looking into a mirror.
Also, Grandpa’s stories about her included stories of her love for animals and her courage to defend them. I feel a real affinity in the area of love of animals and wish I had her courage.
Here are Cora and Adrian (senior) with Grandpa, Adrian (junior)
What I knew about Cora’s death was that she had cancer that had spread throughout her body and her brain became confused from the disease. I also knew that she was dying when my grandparents got married. That explains why they got married out of town and on their own. My grandmother moved into the house with Grandpa and his mother and took care of her until she died a few months later.
Now take a look at the cause of death on the certificate:
Exhaustion – debility from gen – metastatic sarcoma spindle cell – primary in left thigh, followed injury was removed 9-16-29 – had existed there 5 years.
I believe that it is what it says.
So cancer that started in her left thigh. Cancer that, according to Google, would be treated with chemo today. If caught in time, the results would probably be positive. Spindle cell sarcoma apparently is a connective tissue cancer.
I thought that was a little bit of a coincidence because it seems that Cora had the cancer since she was about 52 and when I was 50 I had a tumor in my foot. While my tumor turned out not to be cancer, it was a giant cell reparative granuloma, which means that it has some characteristics of cancer (possibility of metastasizing and also destruction and replacement of healthy tissue). My tumor is the type that also reacts to injury or pressure, as Cora’s did.
After checking out more on Google, I also learned that Giant Cell tumors can turn into cancer if left untreated–and sometimes into spindle cell. Notice that Cora’s original tumor wasn’t removed until 1929, about two years into her diagnosis.
All very curious. I know that I am lucky that I got 21st century medical care for my foot.
Cora passed away at age 57, never meeting her three grandchildren. My mother would be born less than two years after Cora’s death.
The Family Kalamazoo 
How very sad, and another reminder of the miracles of modern medicine. So you need to post a photo of yourself next to Cora so we can see the similarity!
So sad. That was a hard way for my grandparents to begin their marriage, too. Hahaha to your request. Maybe by email . . . .
Interesting post Luanne. I learned something new. I too think you should post side by side photos. Maybe go to some costume shop and rent a dress similar to one of her photo’s (high collar) and then you will be even more like her.
Hahaha, I wish I still looked like I did in my 20s! There wouldn’t be much resemblance between Cora in her 20s and me at almost 62 ;). Thanks for thinking it would be possible, Jose!
Wonderful story, Luanne…I am so sorry Cora didn’t have our treatments, too.
Intriguing that you had a similar issue with your foot – and that you definitely show the DNA similarities in looks.
Beyond all that, I found the word “exhaustion” the most appropriate. I know for my dad and others I’ve seen with cancer the actual cause of death is exhaustion. They just can’t battle any longer.
When asked by his pastor who was visiting him in the hospital near his death How goes the battle? My dad’s answer was “exceeding long.”
Exhausted.
Sheila, what a thoughtful and thought-provoking comment. Yes, you are so right. I had completely ignored that word. Thank you for making me slow down and think about it and for your story about your father’s long and exhausting battle with cancer. As you know, that is how we lost my father as well.
I don’t think we appreciate how lucky we are to live in this day and in this place. Death was a constant companion for our ancestors. A cold could turn into diphtheria, a minor scrape could become a raging infection. With horses everywhere tetanus was a concern. We often act as if we got a written guarantee with our birth certificate.
I didn’t know that about horses causing tetanus. How does that work? You are so right about acting like we have a written guarantee. It does feel that way these days until something goes wrong with that plan . . . .
The tetanus virus thrives in horse manure.
I had no idea!
Wow…..just wow. Thank God for modern medicine.
Yes, I agree–on both counts! I hope all is well!
What a bittersweet story. Cora was beautiful! And to know the couple began their marriage with her illness hanging over them…what a love story!
Aw, thank you, Ann Marie. Grandma told me that it was very difficult to begin her marriage by taking care of her dying mother-in-law. But I expect that they probably rushed to marry so that she COULD help Grandpa because he had recently lost both his father and grandfather and had no siblings.
Such devotion…what a blessing at such a difficult time. Thank you for sharing!
Genetics… You do look a whole lot like your Cora and FHH does matter. Good post, interesting to see how detailed and knowledgeable doctors were back then, when they just had a microscope and their brain.
I also find it interesting to have such a detailed cause of death in 1932. I agree with you so much about FHH. I don’t know if I have told you this, but two or fewer years ago my son finally got a confirmed diagnosis for a previously undiagnosed disease that he has had his whole life. It is an extremely rare and genetic disease. If doctors had thought to themselves, HMM, SINCE HE’S AN ADOPTEE IT MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA TO CHECK FOR THE RARE STUFF, TOO, HE MIGHT HAVE GOTTEN MORE HELP AND UNDERSTANDING FROM THE MEDICAL WORLD WHEN HE WAS GROWING UP. Sorry for shouting. I know you know this stuff.
Shout away Luanne – I wish doctors thought that way, my doctor promised me on my first visit that she’d treat me as if I had everything in my FHH – needless to say, she failed miserably, and why I’m here now…
Ugh. I wish I had better words, but it’s just such a shame.
What a sad story! Tracing your family tree certainly makes you thankful for modern medicine–all those people lost to diseases we barely blink at today.
That is so true. And all the children who passed away before they reached puberty.
It’s so sad that they couldn’t successfully treat Cora’s cancer. I found it interesting how much specific information about her illness was included on her death certificate. Often in days gone by, I get the sense that they didn’t really know what was the cause of death – but that obviously was not the case in this situation.
The other day I wrote some comments, and WordPress ate them up. 😦 Yes, it’s very sad that they seemed to have such an educated diagnosis and yet couldn’t treat the cancer. I’ve had that feeling sometimes, too. Or sometimes the cause of death feels almost “lazy,” if that makes sense.
Wow, some really fascinating similarities for sure. You do look very much like her. ❤
It really is amazing. There are many ancestors that I don’t see much in the way of anything in common, then others are more similar. Cora is the most similar for sure.
Fascinating history, Luanne. I think too of my grandfather who died of colon cancer at age 63. He would have lived for many more years if the treatment had advanced sooner. I can see how you resemble her from your pictures! Remarkable, actually!
Oh, I’m so sorry. Did they do screening colonoscopies at the time or not yet?
I agree that the similarities are remarkable! Thanks, Patti.
Isn’t it incredible that the genes can fall in a certain way that means we look a lot like our grandmothers. I had the same experience with a photo of my paternal grandmother. And it wasn’t just me. Other people would look at her photo and ask if that was me dressed up for an old time costume portrait!
Furthermore, in regard to the health aspect, I once read a book about genealogical health conditions and examining your family history for trends and likely inherited problems. Very interesting. In time, perhaps we will understand it more?
I used to read gothic romance mystery novels and they often had that trope: the contemporary heroine who looks just like a photograph of a person long dead on the wall of an old gothic mansion. I thought it was ridiculous. But it actually happens!!
I agree that eventually we will have a better understanding of genealogical health conditions.
That is true. I can think of movies or stories like that too!!
Right!