The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1910-03-05
MRS. CATHERINE oPlE.
Cornish Exchange Tells Of Death OF
Mother of Mrs. Retallick.

| NohUCT " WITS fhehe'FNNs
The News is in receipt OF a Cornish
exchange. giving an obituary of th'
late Mrs Catherine Opie. mother OF
Mrs. Charles Retallick. of Depot street,
Laurlum and Mrs. Walter Sanders 81
Calumet avenue. The decedent was
well known TO number of Calumet
people, who formerly made Cornwall
their home.
The following account Of her death
and an interview which goes back -
the early part OF the 18th century, will
be read with interest locally:
At a great age of close on 100, Mrs.
Catherine Opie passed away on Satu~-
day at the residence Of her grand
daughter at SHADES. Mrs. Opie was by
long way the oldest inhabitant of the
district. and by her decease an in
teresting personality has passed away
been severed. Born at Tregreham
Mills in February, 1912, she had n
vivid recollection and many OF those
stirring events in the history of the
district which only come down to the
present generation in fragments, but
which all the same are so intensely
interesting In an interview with the
old lady, which was published in our
columns some time ago. she recounted
some OF those recollections OF the past
as II they happened but yesterday.
II can remember the peace celebra-
Of
tie of Waterloo, when a bullock was
roasted for the people" she said, and
went on to recount many interesting
"reminiscences of the neighborhood
and particularly the inhabitants Of
Holmbush. among whom she resided
for half a century In her youth the
"Holmbush Inn" was a noted "Tiddly
Winks' and the stopping place Of the
London Coach. Though she lived in
five reigns she never caught a glimpse
Of the monarch. and during her long
life only left her home twice. once for
a trip to Bristol, and then to Truro.
She was ever keen on relating the try
ing experiences Of the poor i'm the days
of Protection, and told her interviewer
that fish and lotatoes with barley
bread was the staple food of the work
ing classes, varied on Sundays to mar
row bone broth. 81 have always be-
lieved in fresh air and cold water, and
I recommend them to all young people"
she said, and as one sat and talked =
her i'm her cottage home. where she
cared for herself, it was easy to guess
that one of the secrets of her long life
was an equable temperament and a
placid contentment with her position.
A year-and half ago she left her
cottage to reside with her grand
daughter, in consequence of her fee
bleness. Almost up to the last she
was in possession of her faculties. For
her sewing or for reading the Bible,
which occupied most of her time, she
never needed spectacles, and her head
was crowned with wonderful aureole
OF silvery white hair. Since August
last she had been obliged to keep her
bed at Mrs. CroYle's residence but all
through she remained cheerful and
bright In the midst of hymn singing
and reciting Scripture she frequently
remarked. what are my sufferings
Lord" and enjoyed the counsel of the
Vicar of Charleston and many leaders
of Nonconformist churches.
Some time before her death she fell
into a comatose condition from which
she scarcely ever rallied. She passed
peacefully away, leaving nine children.
ffty-nine grandchildren and twenty
great grandchildren to mourn the loss
For many years she was a regular at
terdant at Charlestown church and
even after she was ninety she did the
journey on OF. When the Holmbush
Mission Room was opened she Joined
the little company of Primitive Metho-
dists in worship there.