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A Dane in Little Italy

Old Ways: Staying Danish

Ella Bennedsen, late 1970s. (CMC, Christian Bennedsen Collection,
P38-2.M2-7.001,
E2007-00512)

I'm happy to inform you that we had a new baby Jan 24-it's a girl, and a sweet one. Birgit is all right, and her mother is taking care of the two kids and me while she is at the hospital. We would be happy to show you this enormous family "at your earliest convenience." Won't that be soon.

Sigvard Bennetzen to Chris and Connie Bennedsen, March 22, 1964.
(CMC, Christian Bennedsen Collection, Correspondence series, Box P-28, 4th group, translated from Danish)

Thank you for remembering my birthday, we are glad to hear from you. Everything is all right with us. The children are fine, Ole has now started school and he likes it, except that he feels he does not learn enough. In July we had three fine weeks in a cottage at the beach then I've had three bad weeks in the army, and now we are ready again for everyday-life in family, at radio and university.

Old Ways: Staying Danish

By the way, did I ever thank you for the papers you sent? I think I didn't, excuse me. It was really interesting for us to see how you are being informed about what is going on over here. As far as I could see, Canadian journalists work on a high level, and the Politiken Weekly is worth looking in too, it was better than I expected. We hope you are already planning your next trip to Europe. We shall heartily welcome you again, and let us this time arrange a long trip to some place you might like to see.

Sigvard Bennetzen to Chris and Connie Bennedsen , August 29, 1964.
(CMC, Christian Bennedsen Collection, Correspondence series, P-28, 5th group)

Through cards and letters, trips to Denmark and phone calls, Chris got to know his new nieces and nephews, and stayed connected with his family and friends. The Danes also came to feel a connection to Canada, as they learned about Chris’s life and experiences.

Chris Bennedsen with his nieces Ole and Tine and their mother Birgit Bennetzen, ca 1964.
(Private Collection)

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