Djemilah Birnie

Djemilah was from the island of Java in Indonesia. She married the Dutchman Gerhard David Birnie. According to Javanese tradition, she did not have a maiden name, thus adopting the Birnie last name upon marriage. Her children were born in Wondowoso, where the couple lived, but when they were old enough they were sent to Groningen in the Nederlands, to live with Anna Helena van Schuppen, their paternal grandmother and to be educated in the Nederlands. Djemilah also lived in the Nederlands from time to time, but she did not get used to the cold weather, and went back to Java when possible, where she died and is buried.