Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1913-09-12
OBITUARY.
McDer1nOtt.

Mrs. John McDermott died at he,
home northwest of the city at 1
o'clock Thursday morning, Sept 4
after a decline which began early
last spring. For some weeks moth
ing serious was thought of her i'll
ness either by herself, her family, OF
her physician. But three weeks
ago she was taken to Rochester
where a diagnosis by Drs. Mayo
and Graham fixed the malady as
cancer of the stomach, and incura-
Bile, and her grief stricken family
brought her home to await the full
fillment of the memorable sentence.
| Her illness was mercifully free
from serious suffering, and to the
loving care of her devoted family
and relatives was added the skillful
services of an expert nurse, Miss
Eva Gurren, from the hospital at
Cedar Rapids. Throughout her
sickness she had the undimmed use
of her mental faculties and her
death was as peaceful as the passing
of child into slumber. To her
very last moments her thoughts
were the ruling thoughts Of her
life-solicitude and counsel and love
for her family, and faithful, loving
nv1,o hro ne Io 1c% nd
friends. ...
+ To her immediate family of
course the death of such a wife
and mother comes as an irrepara-
Bile loss, and rarely even in such
an affliction has a family such deep
and widespread sympathy from the
community; for Mrs. McDermott
through the course of her twenty
five years residence in this county
had reached and won a wide circle
of friends through her womanly
kindness and Christian charity, and
to very many her passing comes
with a sense of personal sorrow and
loss. Father John Murtagh touched
III keynote of her character when in |
his sermon he referred to her life
as practical realization of the
virtues of faith, hope and charity.
They were the inspiration of her
whole life, up to her very last
breath 1t was the realization of
these Christian virtues which re- |
moved from her every day life all
sense Of selfishness and from her
last days all shadow of fear.
Ellen Dorgan was born at Madi-
son, Wis, Feb. %, 1856, and was
united in marriage with John Nc
Dermott at Keyesville, Wis.,. May
4, 1886. From the time Of their
marriage they have been residents
of this county. Two children We're
born to them, John and Julia, the
former having been connected with
the Tomas drug store for the past
been during the same time teacher
in the public schools of this city.
To these and the devoted father has
come great sorrow, which never
theless has its balm in the memory
of life whose whole day bore the
sunshine of love and good works,
and closed not in gloom but in
golden hope and promise.
Three sisters of the departed sur
vive her, all of whom reside in Wis
consin-Mrs. Julia Clemmons of
Bear Valley, Mrs. Tim Collins Of
Waseka, and Mrs. Frank Crapser of
Sextonville. Other relatives from
abroad present at the funeral were:
Mrs. E. w. Gurren and Miss Eva
Gurren of Cedar Rapids, Miss Mary
and T. G. McDermott of Mason
City, Mrs. Ryan and Miss Ella
Hughes of Richland Center, Wis,
and Frank Aspel, P J. Dargan and
Robt. Clemmons Of Bear Valley,
Wis.
The funeral was held from the
Church of the Assumption Saturday
Father Thomas Murtagh
chanted the solemn mass of requiem
and Father John Murtagh gave the
absolution and preached the sermon,
speaking eloquently of the life and
character of the deceased. The
beautiful floral offerings were for
the most part devoted at the request
Of the members of the family to the
decoration of the affairs, statues and
inches of the church and the solemn
and beautiful services were attended |
BY a large number of friends. The |
remains were laid to rest in St. |
Joseph's cemetery, Rev. Thomas
Murtagh reading the burial service.
The widespread sympathy occa-
stoned nv the passing of this Chris