19 August 2010

Obituary--Elizabeth L Hevel

Mrs Hevel is another person whose death was recorded a couple times in the local paper. The first is from an area near Hesperia, and I was not "shocked" to recognize what I believe to be the style of Mrs. Robertson, my favorite obituary writer of this time. The later one appears a week later, over a week and a half after the funeral. Apparently the paper wanted more detail, which is provided in the second obituary.

Anyway, first from the 5 April 1917 Fremont TimesIndicator:

The people of Aetna and vicinity were shocked last Wednesday afternoon when Mrs Will Hevel passed away. SHe had been sick for some time but no one realized the end was so near. She leaves a husband, two daughters and a father, brothers and sister besides a host of friends to mourn their loss. she was a link and loving wife, mother and friend, was never heard to murmur or complain through all her suffering and she will be greatly missed. The funeral was held Saturday afternoon at the Aetna schoolhouse at 1:00 o'clock. Interment in Bull cemetery.

And then, with more pertinent detail is this, from the 12 April 1917, Fremont Times Indicator:

ELIZABETH L. HEVEL
Elizabeth L Deater was born in Oceana county, Michigan, June 21, 1885 and died March 28, 1917 at her home north of town, aged 31 years, nine months and seven days. She was married to J. W. Hevel March 18, 1903. She is survived by her husband, two daughters Dora Amanda and Ethel Ida, a father, five brothers and one sisters and many friends.
The remains were laid to rest in Bull cemetery.

Two very different death notices. The second with the details loved and needed by genealogists, but the first, while bare of details, is rich in the flavor of her life. I think sometimes that is what I like learning most about my ancestors--the flavor of their lives.

1 comment:

  1. I always enjoy reading your posts - this one is a good reminder as I often times become impatient when an obituary doesn't give me the clues I want to point me towards documentation but looking it at again, might just tell me more about the person.

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