Obituaries (April 13)

Flora L. (Simmons) Hopkins

Died March 17, 1943, Edmeston, NY

Edmeston [Otsego Co., NY]:  Funeral services will be held at 2 Saturday afternoon from the Houck Funeral Home here for Mrs. L.D. Hopkins, conducted by Rev. Ralph W. Voxburg, assisted by Rev. Winfield Kelly. Burial will be in the Edmeston Union cemetery.  Flora L. Hopkins, wife of Linn D. Hopkins, died in her home, North street, March 17, 1943.  She was the daughter of Eunice and Marshall Simmons and was born in Edmeston in 1863.  After attending the local schools, she taught in the Carr district and served as a telegraph operator.  In 1884 she married Mr. Hopkins.  Since girlhood she had been a member of the Second Baptist church., Edmeston, and was a regular attendant.  She had been ill seven years.  Surviving are her husband; one daughter, Mrs. Earl Brooks, Edmeston; one son, Harold C. Hopkins, Cleveland, O.; four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Lewis H. Holliday

Died December 23, 1938, North Norwich, NY

Lewis H. Holliday died at his home in North Norwich [Chenango Co., NY] at 11:30 Friday forenoon, after a long illness.  Deceased was born in North Norwich Aug. 29, 1898.  There survive his wife, Mima, and four children, Leila, Vivian, Geraldine and Lewis, also his parents, Mr. and Mrs. A.P. Holliday of North Norwich. Two sisters, Mrs. Frank Dalrymple of Norwich and Miss Alura Holliday of North Norwich, and a nephew and niece also survive.  Funeral services will be held at the Breese Funeral home at 1:30 Monday afternoon, Rev. Roy Henwood officiating with burial in Plymouth [Chenango Co., NY].  

Anna E. (Rose) Holmes

Died August 23, 1942, Edmeston, NY

Edmeston [Otsego Co., NY]:  Mrs. Anna E. Holmes, 60, wife of Fred Holmes, died Sunday in her home after a long illness.  Born in Exeter, she was the daughter of George and Elizabeth Miller Rose and had lived in this vicinity for the last 36 years.  Mrs. Holmes was married Oct. 9, 1901.  She was a member of the Baptist church.  Besides Mr. Holmes, she leaves a daughter, Mrs. Harold Burlison, Edmeston; two brothers, Ernest Rose, Pittsfield, and Floyd, this village; a sister, Mrs.. Irwin Stephens, Edmeston; also nieces and nephews. the funeral will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday from the home of Mrs. Burlison, with Rev. D.J. Dunbar officiating. Burial will be in Edmeston Union cemetery.

Mary Ann (Wilcox) Holdredge

Died February 27, 1941, Norwich, NY

The death of Mrs. Mary Ann Holdredge, wife of B. Franklin Holdredge, occurred early Sunday morning at the family home, 6 Henry street.  Born in McDonough [Chenango Co., NY], the daughter of the late Warren and Margaret (Silvernail) Wilcox.  She was 57 years of age.  Her passing takes one who held a place in the affections of a wide circle of friends. A gracious neighbor, Mrs. Holdredge was a devoted mother and homemaker.  For many years she was associated with her husband in operating the Hotchkiss Inn at Oxford and was formerly active here in the restaurant and tearoom business.  She was formerly a member of St. Paul's Episcopal church at Oxford and was for many years active as a member in Oxford chapter of the O.E.S.  Besides her husband, Mrs. Holdredge is survived by a son, George W., two sisters Mrs. Mabel Edgarton of Binghamton and Mrs. Fred Wilcox of Tyner, a brother, Emory Wilcox of Cincinnatus, several nieces and nephews and a legion of friends.  Services will be held from the Breeze Funeral Home Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock.  Rev. Lloyd S. Charters, rector of Emmanuel church will officiate and burial will be made in Mt. Hope cemetery [Norwich, Chenango Co., NY].

In the hearts and minds of all of us here, is most intimately felt a deepest loss by the passing from our personal midst of such a consistently noble, courageous, faithful and loving person as Mary Ann Holdredge.  Her soul expression to her friends, was ever active, whole hearted and typically expressed her personally favorite thought--"Let me live in the house by the side of the road, and be a friend to man."  Her consistency of character in expressing hope, courage and fortitude were rightly expressed in another one of her favorite thoughts--"Turn always toward the sunshine, and the shadows will fall behind."  There seems to have been no opportunity wasted on her past in her many years of service in expressing in every manner the reality of true Christian spirit--not a picture in the home but what is significant and symbolic of some beautiful character of her soul--not a deed done but for the promotion of higher living--living the highest from within herself--always mindful of her family, her neighbors, and her friends.  From such a character is personally known that Christian thought went out daily to help reach and bless mankind, to bless the sorrowing, the suffering, to prove a blessing in the upliftment of mankind.  This selection comes to my mind as an expression of what Mary Holdredge aimed to be and to do.

"God of the wilderness, and the desert places,

Shine in the soul of me till it blossoms like the rose!

Shine in the heart of me; God of icy regions--;

God of the flowers that sleep under winter snows;

God of the flowers that wake when Spring breathes on them;

Breathe on the soul of me--until it wakens too!

God of the whole great earth, live in the life of me;

Be Thou the heart, the soul, of whatsoever I do!"

The above expresses her inner most desire that her God would be the heart, the soul of whatsoever she did.  And as each day's tasks were completed, she enjoyed the thought she always read before sleeping--the thought she had kept by her pillow for over thirty years:  

"Forgive thyself and all the world;

Put out each feverish light.

The stars are shining overhead--

Sleep sweet, Good Night--Good Night"

I am sure her passing thought to those of her family left behind and to her friends would be--"I cannot doubt that He will attend my every call and that He will send to you ministering angels fair, in answer to my faithful prayer." 

Death Notices

Chenango American, March 22, 1860

In Hamilton [Madison Co., NY], on the 8th inst. after a lingering illness, Mrs. William H. Woodman, only son of John Woodman, aged 22 years.

In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], on the 6th, inst. of consumption, Amy [Aldrich], wife of R. Aldrich, aged 66 years. 

In Columbus [Chenango Co., NY], on the 2d inst. Maj. W. Clark, in the 89th year of his age.

Chenango American, March 29, 1860

In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], on the 27th inst. Mary Ann Melissa Sturges aged 26 years.