Sunday's Obituary - Alice Quirk nee Blanchfield

Another casualty of either my 43-year-old-going-on-103-year-old-brain, disorganization in tracking my posts, crappy blog-search skills, or a combination of all three. Take your pick. Either way it's time to share and if it turns out that it was previously shared, well then I'll just conclude with she's that darned important.

Hazleton area news clipping from a family album

"Laid to Rest.

Many sorrowing friends assembled for the funeral of the late Mrs. Edward Quirk, of Park View, whose remains were laid to rest in St. Gabriel's cemetery, Hazleton, this morning. The funeral was attended by residents from the entire region, and was evidence of the esteem in which the deceased was held. The cortege moved to McAdoo, where a rquiem (sic) mass was offered up in St. Patrick's church, after which the funeral proceeded to Hazleton by trolley.

Handwritten: Died Sept 23, 1915 buried Sept. 27."

I was surprised that the mass was held at St. Patrick's in McAdoo and not St. Gabriel's in Hazleton, but I'm told that McAdoo would have been closer to Park View where they lived. Perhaps this was where they attended mass regularly. It does make me wonder if my grandmother, Mary Quirk, was baptized in St. Patrick's or St. Gabriel's. I'm pleased they didn't bury her in St. Patrick's Cemetery though because it's now closed off and many tombstones have gone missing including one for another Quirk family member. Perhaps the cemetery was closed to burials by 1915. Either way I'm just happy that I can still visit her grave in Saint Gabriel's when I'm in Pennsylvania.

It is disappointing that Alice's first name or maiden name wasn't mentioned in the article. Perhaps it was in her obituary. As I've previously mentioned in blog posts 1915 microfilm for the Hazleton newspapers is MIA from the Hazleton Public Library and so far not on Newspapers.com. I know that the Pennsylvania Archives and the Standard Speaker itself has rolls that are not included in the library's collection. I will have to check to see if September 1915 is held by the archives and check for an earlier article.

Alice died from complications from the birth of her second daughter, compounded with hemophilia as a preexisting condition. I can only imagine that having been diagnosed with hemophilia for 20 years that childbirth was not looked upon as exactly good for her health. I know that her family wasn't happy with Edward after her death. Even blamed him for it. Things aren't fair when emotions run high, but I have no doubt he was heart-broken over her loss and the child's. My grandmother was doted on and spoiled by her aunts, uncles, and father. This shows me how much love there was.

Rest in peace, great grandma. You will always be remembered and you live on in us.