Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-06-20
AN IDEAL DEATH.

If there can be such thing as an
Church Triumphant, a death which
none could dread, it is such a one as
Mrs. Annie NJ. Rourke passed through
Monday evening. Seated III her favorite
arm chair, at peace with God and man,
she passes into deep sleep, the sleep
that knows no waking.
For the past four years Mrs. Rourke
has not known we'll cay as it would be
termed by one in full health, although
she was able at nearly all times to be up
and about the house. A complication
of diseases have gradually been sapping
her vigor away and it was not unknown
to her son Frank that these troubles
were gathering about the heart; this
knowledge has been a source of alarm
and worry to him for long time past.
On Monday, however, the immediate
family entertained less thought of
anything serious than at any time
perhaps for a year previous. Mrs.
Rourke seemed in the very best of
spirits, happy, cheerful and quite spry.
She spent all afternoon conversing with
Mrs. Meredith, who was visiting there,
and ate a hearty supper.
After supper Mr.. Rourke chatted
jovially with his mother on the front
porch until 7:30 when he left for down
town. His wife and her mother, Mrs.
Meredith, left the house about eight
O'Clock for short call on friends.
Mother Rourke was then seated at the
front door just within the screen. At
nine o'clock they returned home and
retired. They noticed nothing unusual
about the house and as it was Mrs.
Rourke's custom to go to bed early they
thought nothing of her absence down
stairs. Frank Rourke came home at 10
O'Clock and as was his regular custom
went up to his mothers room to see if
she needed anything for the night. On
entering her bed chamber he found her
in an arm chair apparently asleep. He
called to her twice, but received no
reply. Approaching be took her hand
and was shocked to find it cold in death.
A doctor was summoned and he pro-
nounced her dead about an hour. The
body was in a natural sitting posture
with feet touching the floor, left hand
resting on the arm of the chair; the
head dropping upon the right shoulder
and right arm hanging loosely as if she
had fallen asleep. The lamp was turned
low, a glass of water and little lunch.
which she always took with her, on the
stand untouched it looks as if she
seated herself to rest for a moment
before retiring and passed off into eter-
nal peace without the movement of a
muscle. \ peaceful expression upon
her face indicated no suffering or
even gasping. Deaths angel simply
stole upon her unawares.
In the death Of Mrs. Rourke society
loses a good Christian woman, her son
and daughter noble, loving mother,
and the church a devoted member
The home circle that is broken by her
departure can find consolation in the
following lines so fitting in this case:
"Mothers gone, they sadly murmur;
And this world seems strangely drear.
How we loved her-how Wen miss her
For to each she was dear.
We shall meet but we shall miss her;
There viii be her empty chair;
And we'll ever think with longing
Of the form that rested there.
Mothers gone and we're so lonely
Mother-sweetest name e'er spoke;
In her love our hearts found shelter,
When life's storms and tempests broke.
Mothers gone, the Master called her,
He who died her soul TO save,
and she's gone in triumph homeward
Tho her path lay through the grave
Mrs. Annie N. Rourke was born in