It was news that made the rounds of the world, showing that humanity will never disappear from Earth. In defiance of our bad times.
The inhabitants of a community lost somewhere in its headquarters Germany they could not believe their ears when they learned that they had inherited the vast fortune of their kind-hearted neighbor.
The elderly woman had just passed away and the notary announced to the initially skeptical community authority that she had left them her land, as well as the entire investment portfolio of her husband.
The 81-year-old trusted her estate to the people with whom she had shared moments of her life, whom she called "family".
Here is how the wonderful story unfolded…
Waldsolms is an administrative community in the state of Hesse. It consists of a cluster of 6 small villages, with the inhabitants mainly engaged in agriculture and livestock.
The Wedel couple have lived there since 1975, always in harmony with their fellow villagers. Alfred Wedel, a successful stockbroker and financially successful, has managed to build an impressive fortune in his long career.
- EastMojo (@EastMojo) December 5, 2020
- EastMojo (@EastMojo) December 5, 2020
When he passed away in 2014, at the age of 88, his wife Renate Wedel remained at home for another two years, when due to age he was forced to retire to a nursing home in nearby Frankfurt.
Of course, this does not mean that she has ever forgotten her home or her neighbors. And this would appear a little later, in December 2019 specifically, when 81-year-old Renate would pass away ζωή
It was April this year when it sounded like a joyous alarm at Waldsolms. The community was now the legal owner of all of Wedel's property, which includes real estate, land and Alfred's extensive investment portfolio.
What is the total amount that Renate bequeathed to her old neighbors? According to the announcement of the community itself, bank account, real estate and shares accounted for a "significant fortune of 6,2 million euros".
From the report of the local newspaper "Hessenschau" we learn that the couple did not have children. Renate had a sister, but she was already gone.
The news fell like lightning in the air in the small rural community. "At first I believed that such a thing was not possible. "Some party would have escaped, something would not be right," Mayor Bernd Heine told the newspaper.
The community inherited in the following months the only asset left by Wedel to one of their heirs, the home where they lived. Which the legal beneficiary eventually refused to accept due to its high maintenance costs.
But also the explicit conditions that the elderly woman had set in the will in order for the paternal home to remain in the hands of the family.
According to "Hessenschau", the beneficiary described it as a "big trouble" and rejected the inheritance. "His value was not worth it," he said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Maybe he was upset that he did not get anything from the huge fortune, who knows.
Despite the fact that a few months have passed since the news, the surprise for most residents has not stopped. Nor do they dream of developing their village and improving their lives.
And they have every right to do so όνειρα, because this is exactly what the will of the 81-year-old protects. The 6,2m-euro legacy can be used "exclusively for facilities and infrastructure in the community".
And of course her fellow villagers are more than willing to respect her wishes. Many are missing and even more in need of repair or modernization.
"The Waldsolms community would like to thank the Wedel couple posthumously for this important legacy," the municipality wrote.
After plenty of city councils, Waldsolms begins to crack down on exactly where it intends to dispose of legacy. There were many promising ideas that fell on the table, as the needs are many. And some historical ones.
The mayor, for example, wants the community to finally have bike lanes. Others dream of a new kindergarten. Others crave auxiliary spaces and new buildings. Even public transport.
As for the kids, they are heartbroken to pass their own proposal for an outdoor pool.
Such joy and optimism was brought by the selfless act of the kind-hearted woman who never forgot her neighbors, the people with whom she had shared her life for four whole decades.