The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-03-08
FELL DEAD IN CHURCH.
Mrs. Deitering's Sudden
Death stops the Services
in the Hoboken Ger
man Church.
pARIsHIoNERs WEPT AND PRAYED
The Aged Worshipper Succumbs
TO Heart Disease-Was One of
the Oldest Members of
the Congregation.
PARIsHIoNERs WEpT AND PRAYED

Mrs. Susan Deitering, D widow, "a
years old, died of heart disease while sit
ting in her pew in the German Evangeli-
cal Lutheran Church, corner of Sixth and
Garden streets, Hoboken, yesterday morn
ing. Mrs. DIFFERING lived with her SER
want in a handsome residence at No. us
Bloomfield street. Her husband, who was
the late William lettering, was formerly
a member of the Hoboken Common Coun-
Gil. He has been dead twenty-five years.
For forty years or more Mrs. Deitering
has been a member of the German Evan
gelical Church. and until three months
ago she was seen at the services regular
~ every Sunday. Her health has not
been the best recently, and she occasion
ally passed a Sunday witout going to
Church. She Is a stout woman and
weighs nearly 20 pounds.
Yesterday morning Mrs. Deltering went
to church and was in her accustomed seat
shortly before the services began. The
pew in which she always sat is situated
half way down the central aisle, directly
in front Of the pulpit. The Sunday morn
sifg services in the church commence at
ten o'clock.
Mrs. DIFFERING appeared to be in good
health, and those who spoke to her when
she entered the church said she was in
the BEST of spirits. When the singing be-
gan. Mrs. lettering Joined in heartily.
Her feeble voice, though not very loud,
could be heard distinctly as the congre-
cation sang the old familiar hymns. Adj
ioinEng the pew in which Mrs. lettering
was sitting with Mrs. Frederick Deitering,
Mrs. Offerings daughter-in-law and a few
seats in front of her sat Mrs. John Ru-
dolph, wife of the pastor. The little
Church was crowded with members.
After the singing Pastor Rudolph be-
gan reading the Ten Commandments. He
had just commenced when Mrs. Rudolph
heard a slight noise back of her. She
turned her head and her eyes fell upon
Mrs. lettering, whose face was deathly
pale. Mrs. Rudolph concluded tina Mrs.
Deiter.ng was III. She watched her and
the next moment saw the old lady's head
drop forward on her breast. AS quick
as possible Mrs. Rudolph slipped quietly
out of her seat and went down the aisle
to where Mrs. lettering was sitting. She
spoke to the aged lady and raised her
head. but There was no reply. Her face
had a ghastly look, her eyes were closed
and she was not breathing. Mrs. Fred
erick DIFFERING procured a glass of water
but Mrs. lettering could not be revived.
There was a little confusion in the church
n a Strasning of necks to see what was
the matter, but Pastor Rudolph went
right on reading without taking his eyes
from the book. Several of the ladies
went to Mrs. Offerings assistance, but
they could do nothing for her.
Frank Cordts, a member who sat with
his wife near Mrs. Deitersng's pew, left
the church to summon a doctor. AS he
reached the sidewalk DR.. Frank Nichols
happened to be passing by and Mr.. cordts
called to him. The doctor quickly en-
tered h church. felt Mrs. Offerings
pulse and pronounced her dead. AS the
doctor spoke some of the ladies began to
cry bitterly and others turned away In
sorrow.
Elder John straub. who lives at No.
lSS Park avenue, n whose daughter
married Mrs. OFFERINGS son, rushed up
the aisle and Informed Pastor Rudolph
OF what had happened. The minister dis
continued the services Immediately. I'm
q loW put distinct voice he said, Zone of
our Oldest parishioners has gone to Hea-
ven from our midst"
The congregation was then dismissed.
Some Of the elders started out to notify
dertaker lVolk arrived with a wagon. The
body of Mrs. lettering was still sitting
upright in the pew. 1t was placed In a
box ana removed to the deceased's late
Mrs. DIFFERING leaves one, daughter and
a son. They are Mrs. Alexander d. FL
berg OF No 4ls Hudson street and Fred
Gently was not thought serious, and her
death Yves a complete surprise to her
friends, of whom she had many. Several
Mrs. Elbers' baby boy in the church
where h died.