New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-21
Wife of John
w anamaker
Dies at Shore
End Comes at Atlantic City
After 8 Months Illness:
Husband and Her Three
Children Are at Bedside
She Was 80 Years Old
Noted for Charitable Work;
Stunned Ostentation of
Society; SouglltHomeLife

Wanamaker, died at 1920 q. m. to- day
IN Atlantic City, after an illness Of
almost eight months. She suffered q
relapse on Monday and her age and
weakened heart prevented her from
rallying. Her husband and their chill
dren, Mrs. Barclay Warburton, Mrs.
Norman Mcleod and Rodman Wanna
maker, were at her bedside, with Mapor
Warburton and Major Mcleod and sew
eral grandchildren.
Since the Christmas holidays Mrs.
Wanamaker had been at the Ambassa-
dor Hotel at the shore resort. An
attack of pleurisy which she sufrerd
then developed into pneumonia and
heart disease ensued One of her
physicians said that she also had
spinal disease. The entire second floor
Of the hotel was leased by Mr.. Wanna
maker and staff of specialists and
nurses installed.
Mrs. Wanamaker's body was brought
TO Philadelphia this afternoon in a
special car. Funeral services will be
held Monday morning at II o'clock Il
the Wananake, estate, Lindenhurst,
Jenkintown, Pa. }nterment will be at
the Cemetery of ST. James the Less.
Mrs. Wanamaker was eighty years
Old and was Mary Erringer Brown
before her marriage to Mr.. Wan
amaker in 1860. Although the wife
of man known throughout the world,
Mrs. Wanamaker cared nothing for
pubic life and was seldom seen at
any large functions or important gath
erings. She entertained occasionally,
but not more than her position re-
CURED. Her interests were conferred
IN her home and in her favorite chart
ties, to which she gave anonymously
in most cases.
Interested in ChiIdren's Ward
Mrs. Wanamaker was especially in
terested in the Presbyterian HOSPITAL
bethany Presbyterian Church, and the
North American Sanitarium. At the
Presbyterian Hospital Mrs. Wanamaker
oulit the children's ward in 1887 in
T.
rlnger Brown. The big iron gate
leading into the grounds surroun5ine
the chidren's building is called the
"anamaker gate, since it was locked
to every one but Mrs. Wanamaker
who held the only key.
Until two or three years ago. when
her health prevented, Mas. Wanamake1
was a frequent visitor ac the hospital
she made the rounds of all the bcus
IN the ward, spoke to each of the chill
dEen, and talked over practical matters
with the nurses in charge Each Christ
mas, including the last one. she sent
quantities OF toys to the hospital Two
or three times each week she pro
vded an entertainer for the children
VINO told them stories Two beds in
the ward were endowed by Mrs. Wana-
maker, one IN commemoration of the
birthday of her son. Thomas Brown
anamaker, who died in 1908, and the
other in memory Of Fernando Wanu-
maker. Another bed is endowed bv
Rodman Wanamaker as a tribute to
his mother.
Mrs. Wanamaker was also the large st
Individual contributor to the North
American Sanitarium. At Thanksgiv-
Ing and Christmas she remembered The
little crippled children with soeclal
cation Of Bethany Presbyterian Church
Philadelphia, of which Mrs. Wona-
ma ker was member, were the re-
cipients Of her charitable 6 fits. She
also gave literally to the Social Wei
fare Bureau maintained by the con-
gregation.
Mrs Wanamakcr was the last of her
family She had three brothers.
George, Nathan and William H.. all of
whom are dead. It was with Nathan
Brown that Mr. Wanamaker started his
first store, at Sixth and Chestnut
Streets, Philadelphia. 1t was a small
clothing store operated under the name
of Wanamaker & Brow.
Mrs. Wana,Aaker was little known
except by members of the family and
by those whose acquaintance she made
through her charities. Even when he.
husband was Postma ster General she
did not give up her seclusion any more
than was absolutely necessary
Nr. and Mrs. Wanamaker had 81,
children. Only three Of them are liv-
ing. Mrs. Wanamaker was a devoted
mother and wished for nothing more
than to be allowed to remain in the
heart Of her family, freed from social
duties which would take her away from
her children.
AS a tribute to Mrs. Wanamaker's
memory the Wanamaker stores in
Philadelphia, New York, London ana
Paris we're closed to-day and will not
reopen until Tuesday morning
The Wanamaker store in this CITY