The Scranton Republican, 09SEP1913, pg16 |
I'll admit to getting a little exited when I saw that the obituary mentioned her being born in Ireland. I figured that if they were going to go that far, they'd give a little more information, but no. Hopes dashed. They didn't even mention that she had originally resided in Cranberry, Pennsylvania...a small residential area near Hazleton. There's also no mention of her daughter, Nellie/Ellen Devers nee Reilly, who died 10 years before.
When searching newpapers.com I saw the death notice for William Reilly. The grandson mentioned in the post. I didn't think much about it because I was focused on Margaret. When I came across her obituary and it mentioned William's death shortly before I made sure I clipped that article too. After all...they all belong to me even if I don't have the solid connection yet. I'll get there.
"Prominent Woman Goes to Her Final Reward
AVOCA, ept. 8.
The death of Mrs. Charles Reilly, one of Avoca's oldest and most esteemed residents, occurred at the home of her son, Charles Reilly, on South Main street, Sunday night.
A grandson, William Reilly, died last week and his demise is believed to have weakened her condition, which was weakened owing to her advanced age.
Mrs. Reilly was born in Ireland and resided in Avoca for the last thirty years. She is survived by two sons, Charles and Edward, of Avoca, and one daughter, Margaret, of Scranton.
The funeral takes place Wednesday morning at 9:30 o'clock. Services at St. Mary's church and interment in St. Mary's cemetery."
Margaret is buried in St. Mary's Cemetery in Avoca. She has a FindAGrave memorial I created after finding this clipping.
I know I am not alone in my love of obituaries, but I too have been disappointed lately with several. I've noticed that many of them in the area I am researching in the early 1900's really give very little family information. Of the 10 I've recently gotten copies of, none of them mention parents or where they were born, nor do they mention all of the other family members. To top it off, many like yours, simply refer to the women as Mrs. _____(fill in her husband's name.) I guess I will take any little bit of information I can get, but I still can't help but feel a little disappointed.
ReplyDeleteI feel the same. I'm happy that I found something, but I'm disappointed in what I found. I keep telling myself that I need to write my own obituary and keep it with my will!
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