The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-03-15
SIMPLE SERVICE FOR
MRS. J. D. ROCKEFELLER
Gloom Was Absent From Pocantico
Hills Home During the
Ceremony.
BECOMES FUNERAL CHAPEL
Body of Mrs. Rockefeller Was Not I'm
Casket, Blu. ON Bed as Though i'm
Slcep--Datc for the Burial Has Not
Yet Been Fixed.

New York, March 1.-THE Rookie
Teller home at Pocantico Hills was a
funeral chapel this afternoon tor a
simple, devout service for Mrs. John
ID. Rockefeller, who died on Friday
morning, To the few intimate
friends, the office associates of Mr..
Rockefeller. and the servants In the
side of the members of the family
about sixty in all--the solemn. but
rather hopeful than sorrowful. cere-
mony, gave IN intimate picture of the
Rockefeller home life that would
scarcely be seen except for the cir
cumstances OF the death itself.
The Rev. Cornelius Woelfkin. pas
tor of the f'ifthAvcnue Baptist
Church, who conducted the services,
himself in his brief remarks said
he struck the keynote OF the familys
feeling in the thought that there
should be no sorrow. but rather hope
and belief which MIR. and Mrs. Rocke-
felIer have always held in future i'm
mortal life. MIR. Rockefeller. his son,
John u. Rockefeller. Jr., emphasized
that sentiment throughout the ser
vices. Both personally received tho
friends and relatives who came and
spoke with them before they left an
hour later.
The services, lasting Atty minutes,
we're held downstairs in the biz
house, the entire lower floor forming
the temporary chapel. with the ser
wants seated In the small balcony
that overlooks the hall, Or. Woelf-
kin stood in the entrance hall, huge
bank OF flowers forming a sort Of
chancel behind him. In the dining
room at his left sat the members VI
the family, in the living room AT his
right. and In the large DRAWING room
opening into the living room and the
hall were seated the others who came
to the service by invitation. Every
one else was excluded.
Few Vics,ed Corpse.
Mrs. Rockefelier's body was not
laid downstairs as was anticipated
and only few of those who attended
the funeral rites went up 10 her room
to view the corpse. II was Mr.
Rock efellar's express wish that after
EN- halming, his wife should be laid
i'm he'd In her own room and not in
a casket until that was necessary.
So the few who went up TO see her
found her as in sleep, death indi-
Gated only by the heaps OF flowers
arranged about the room. There
was no outhurst Of feeling last 81
sehs. Itzasoling tr1ig:se az lifelong de-
votion.
4 burial time has not been fixed
ana IL may UOt fahe RtAtt aiaNAA 49,
day. When Mr.. Rockefeller was
asked about ii this aftersoon he said
only:
Il want TO keep her as Ions as pos
sibie. you Anow."
An Absence of Gloom.
John u. Rockefeller himself sat in
the dining-room of the house. He
and his son have been a source Of
consolation 10 each other in the family
MI, thar,s o.
marked how bravely they bore the
death on the old mans left sat one
of his gran ichIldren. Abhie Rockefei-
Ter. daughter of John D. Rockefeller,
IT. while he held on his knee Win
throp, Abbie's brother.
TIL. three other grandchildren. two
Of Mr.. and Mrs. John p. Rockefeller
Jr.'s, and little Rockefeller Prentice
were present too. During the ser
vices Mrs. Rockefeller. Jr.. sat on her
fatht Rim Jaws night.
The simple mpressiverssS ~ the
ceremony was remarked by those who
witnessed IL II was solemn Through
out. but ev..ry one noticed an absence
Of gloom, especially on the part OF Mr..
Rockefeller and his son. Both said
little about Mrs. Rockefeller's death,
except that she had lived n beautiful
life. had been devout and hopeful,
ana that they felt as che did boz;
hereafter.
There was some speculation today
as to Mrs PCrkefellers will SIZE had
! n personal fortune ef not less than
s.. 100000 invested in securities and
her will has been made for several
Years. T. will probably be admitted
10 probate In about ten DAYS 1t is
not expected that the death OF Mrs.
Rockefeller. however. will interfere
with John n. Rockefeller. Jr.s plans
for trio 20 Colorado next month.