Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-03-26
Death of Miss Louisa Howard


Tuesday morning. at little after o
O'Clock, the spirit of one of the gentlest
and best beloved of women passed peace
fully from earth. Miss Hannah Louisa
Howard, in spite of her long and severe
suffering, her physical weakness and the
growing disabilities of age, has filed so
large part in the benefcent activities of
the community, for Il long period of years,
and has so lived in the sympathies of all
our citizens that the news of her death
though not unexpected, comes to all with
special sense of bereavement. Miss
Howard, as her friends are aware, had
been failing for Il long time, from II
cancer The disease was known to
Miss Howard for some years before its en-
istence was suspected by those who were
nearest and dearest to her; but about Il
year ago her health began to fail so rapid
ly that her friends were alarmed and med
zeal assistance was secured. The disease,
however, had progressed so far that it was
impossible to check it and since that
time Miss Towards decline has been
rapid. Though confined to her room, and
recently to her bed, and suffering most in
tensely, neither her unseltish interest in
others welfare, nor her gracious benefac-
tlons were suffered to fall off, but rather
near. Almost her last words were, LET
no money he wasted ON my funeral, but
save it for the poor" She passed away
peacefully and restfully, at about 9l5
O'Clock, Tuesday morning, having been
asleep since 6 O'Clock. On Thursday of
last week the holy communion was adj
ministered to her by Rev. j. |. Bliss, rec
tor of st. Pauls Episcopal church, of
which she was a communicate. She died
in the full joy of Christian faith and hope.
Miss Hannah Louisa Howard was born
in Burlington, July 2, 1903. Her father
was John Howard her mother Hannah
Earle. She was the second of three chill
dren, John Howard, Esq, Burlngtons
honored benefactor being the eldest, and
Mrs. n. &. Spear, who survives her, the
youngest Her life, with few brief
intervals of travel, has been spent in Bur
lington, and her heart has always been
bound up in the interests of this commun-
life, full of quiet ministries to others, of
unselish service and of blessed benefac
tions, has been hers. She has been identi
fled especially with the religious and phi
lanthropic institutions ana enterprises of
Burlington. She was at one time connect
ed with the Unitarian church in this city,
but in December, 1862 she severed
her connection with this church, in
company with many others, and was
confirmed as communicate of St.
Paul's Episcopal church, in which
connection she has remained, and ITO
which church she has gladly given the
best that was hers, both of service and
benefaction, ever since. The record of
her life is one long record of forgetful-
ness of self and devotion to others. She
has indeed proved Il faithful steward of
the advantages and opportunities which
were granted her in such abundant meas
ure. Every worthy enterprise, especially
in the interest of religion and philan-
thropy, has found in her a warm hearted
and open-handed friend. And yet, gen
erous and worthy as her public
benefactions have been, it is to
her private charities that we must
look for the best expression of the
spirit of this loving, tender-h hearted
woman. Her heart and her hand were
ever open to the needy, the suffering, the
friendless. Hundl eds whom her charity
has aided, and her gracious presence and
words have cheered, sorrow for her to-day
as deeply and truly as her closest friends
The private channels through which her
beneficence flowed so freely, during all
these years may never be known to those
who would sum up the gracious deeds OF
| her life, but there are those who have
them all cherished in grateful and sorrow
| ing hearts, and we may be sure that
where she would most prefer to have then
/ remembered, not one of them is lost OF
! forgotten.
Miss Towards public benefactions in
this community are worthy of her spirit
and the name she bore. Among the best
/ known of them are the beautiful mortuary
chapel at Lake View cemetery, and hel
gift of portion of Exchange block to the
! Howard Relief society. She has also given
| large sums of money to the Home fol
Destitute Children, lifting, at one time, it,
entire debt of nearly $1,000, While the
| Young Woman's Christian association of
Burlington was in existence, she contrbu
ted most literally to its support, and the
organ, Bible and hymn book in the asso
cation rooms We're her gifts. OF
Miss Howard most truly may it be said
Her works do follow her" She will long
| be held in affectionate and tender remem
brance by "A community which is in itself
| largely a monument of the wise bene
ticence and practical philanthrophy of her
| self and her honored brother.