Renée de Merode

Princess Renée de Merode, Countess d'Oultremont (Paris,25.5.1859-1941) was a Belgian Noble Lady, she was married to the wife of the Court Grandmarshall of the King of Belgium.

Family

She married on 21 februari 1881 to count Charles John d'Oultremont, she gave him three children. Her husband had an important career in service of the King of the Belgians. Her husband almost died after the attack of Gennaro Rubino, however she became a widow after her husband returned form the Holzminden prisoner-of-war camp.

Charities

She belonged to the high aristocracy and was part of the court ladies. Like all Noble ladies she was expexted to perform Works of charity for the needed.

In 1914 she joins the Red Cross. She receives permisions by the Germans to visit the Aliied wounded togheter with other Noble ladies for the Wounded.^[1] In the Palace of the Royal Academie she spenss hours visiting, helping serious wounded soldiers and giving them religious comfortment. In 1916 she becomes the President of the La Sante à l'Enfance.^[2] Even after the death of her husband she continues to help the needed children. For her exeptional merit the King granted her in 1919 the Order of Leopold. After her death in 1941 the dowager Countess of Oultremont left a diary of mor then 4000 pages.

Books

She probaply wrote for Mgr Cardijn the work Childhood, Youth, and Martyrdom of Gabrielle Petit.^[3]

Honours

• 1919, By RD of the King made Knight in the Order of Leopold

References