New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-13
MRS: ROCKEFELLER
DIES SATPOCANTICO
Passes Away Unexpected
" While Husband and
Son Are in Florida.

Mrs. John ". Rockefeller died a.
1920 O'Clock yesterday morning. Al
her bedside when the end came, IN
room Of the Rockefeller house at Po-
cantico Hills, were her sister, Miss
Lucy Spelmsn, a physician and few
old family servants. Her only son,
John D. Rockefeller, jr., and her hus-
band. TO whose welfare her entire mar
ricd life had been devoted. were thou
sands Of miles away, at OrmOnde, Fla.
Although she had been i'll for sew
eral months and practically all invalid
for more than a year. Mrs. Rockefel-
ler's death was unexpected. Thursday
night Snc suffered a relapse, but
seemed better early yesterday. Her
nurse gave her glass of milk, which
she drank and declared IT tasted good.
She wiped her lips with a napkin,
leaned back against her pillow and be
came unconscious. She died less than
an hour later. Mrs. Rockefeller was
I'm her seventr-siXth year
ArPmia and other disorders resulting
from her advanced age were said to
have caused the death of the wife of
Americas wealthiest citizen. More than
two years ago she was seriously strick
en- with pneumonia. She was taken to
Hot Springs. Va, where she regained
her health to outward appearances, but
never got back her full. strength. A
year AGO she again became III and
never fully recovered.
Her condition, however. was so i'm
proved last month that her family was
cheered and hopeful that she was on
the road TO complete health. When the
time for Mr.. Rockefeller's yearly pill
crimagc to Florida approached she
urged him 10 90.
He deferred the journey South until
February 20, but finally left on that
date when IL seemed certain that his
wife was gaining strength every day.
John u. Rockefeller, jr., and young
Mrs. Rockefeller remained behind
week or two, but when physicians
made promising predictions, they, too,
went to Florida. A message over the
long distance telephone caused them TO
turn huiricdly toward home yesterday
morning.
All last week Mrs. Rockefeller's
health seemed to improve. During the
warmest hours Of the afternoon she
was carried to balcony overlooking
the rolling Wcstchester hills and al
lowed TO spend an hour or two IN the
sunshine. One day this week, accord
ing TO report in Tarrytown, she eX-
pressed a desire TO see how her rose
bushes had brayed the winter weather.
She was placed In a wheeled chair and
taken about the flower gardens.
Her spirits after the visit out OF
doors were so high that upon being
taken inside she called for secretary
and dictated encouraging messages TO
her husband and son IN Florida, tell
ing them that her strength was return
ing with the approach OF spring, and
admonishing them not TO worry on her
account
Her relapse late Thursday night was
severe, but she appeared to recover,
and her attendants did not become
alarmed until after breakfast ye.ter-
day. Dr. Paul Allen. of SO West Forty
ninth Street, Manhattan, was sum
moned hurriedly. He made the trip to
Pocantico Hills IN an automobile, but
when ne arrived he found that his ef-
forts to revive Mrs. Rockefeller from
inconsistencies we're futile.
Mrs. Rockefellers illness began a
wear ago last month, when she was at
Continued on page ls, column