A very strange discovery: a tombstone in a second-hand store

The store owner refused to sell the stone, he looked for family members on the internet, and it worked. It remains to be understood how the tombstone ended up in the store.

One tombstone, which was supposed to be in a cemetery, was found in a second hand store in Aalsmeer, in the Netherlands.

It was a very strange discoveryas described by . And it was also an unusual case that generated strong media attention.

The tombstone, which was above the tomb of Wilhelmina FJ Straathof (who died in 1989)appeared unexpectedly in the second-hand store called Gideon.

The employees, at first, they didn’t realize the sensitive nature of the object, the context in question.

When he realized, the owner of the establishment, Gideon Italiaander, admitted to having been uncomfortable when you see a tombstone for sale; thought inappropriate to sell an object with such a symbolic and emotional charge.

So Gideon decided use social media to locate family members or descendants of the deceased, appealing for the collaboration of internet users.

The initiative quickly generated numerous reactions, with users sharing information that allowed them to identify possible family connections.

And, as happens in other cases, the appeal resulted: a niece appeared.

The identification was confirmed and the family members ended up going to the store to collect the tombstone, ensuring its return to the family circle.

The tombstone was finally returned to the family of the deceased – it was never sold because the store owner guaranteed that wouldn’t happen.

In addition to the stone, a little book religious associated with the tombstone.

It still remains to be understood how and why the tombstone ended up in the thrift store.