The Burial of Father Joannes Vitus Janssen (1803-43) at Paramaribo

Funeral in Paramaribo of the missionary Joannes Vitus Janssen, 1843. Anonymous, c. 1843. The coffin is borne by twelve black pall bearers dressed in white to symbolise mourning. Two priests walk behind the coffin: Petrus Donders, known as the 'apostle of the Indians and lepers of Surinam', and T. Kempkes. They are followed by the church councillors, the governor's staff and various officers. Around 1,400 black Surinamers, all Catholic converts, attended the funeral. In the foreground, left, is an Indian family. Preceding the coffin are the funeral directors, members of the Kreps family. Their surname became a byword for a gravedigger in Surinam.The Catholic cemetery was opened in 1840. Slaves were buried in a separate section, probably at the back, to the left.