11 September 2007

Dutch linguist Fr. Verstraelen passes away

Dutch linguist Fr. Verstraelen passes away
Fr. Verstraelen from a file photo taken during his arrival at USC in the late 1950s

Father Eugene Verstraelen, SVD passed away at 8 o'clock in the evening of September 7 due to cerebral hemorrhage. He was 85.

A Dutch anthropologist who specialized in Sanskrit and Javanese variants of the language, Fr. Verstraelen returned to Cebu from his current mission assignment in the District of Surigao as a special guest at the launching of the yearlong Philippine Centennial Celebrations of the SVD the following day.

Fr. Verstraelen marked his 60th year of ordination on August 17 this year and was doing parish work in Dinagat Island for years now prior to his untimely demise. He was a member of the pioneer faculty of the Department of Graduate Anthropology (later, Department of Sociology and Anthropology) at USC.

His body now lies in state at the USC Main Chapel. The Resurrection Mass will be held on Wednesday, September 12, at 2 oclock in the afternoon at the Main Chapel. Interment will be at Evergreen Cemetery in Talisay City, Cebu.

May Fr. Verstraelen rest in Peace!

Author: J.E. R. Bersales
11 / September / 2007

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