Kelly, Mary (Whitty) died 1922

KELLY, WHITTY, SLATTERY, LARKIN, BYRES, DILLON, HEFFERN

Posted By: S. Ferrall - IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 6/9/2017 at 20:30:30

On Friday evening, February 17, at her home in Paint Creek township, occurred the death of Mrs. Lawrence Kelly, who succumbed to an attack of acute gastritis, after only a day's illness, at the age of 81 years, 9 months and 21 days.

Surrounded by all her children, several grandchildren, other relatives and friends who did all they could to stay the hand of death, but to no avail, for Divine Providence ruled otherwise, she willingly and peacefully commended her spirit to her Lord and Maker, thus leaving a void in the home and community where she was so much loved and where, as one of her friends has said, "the absence of that cheerful, encouraging, saintly face of 'Grandma Kelly' will long be mourned," for she was a friend to all and all were friends to her.

Mary Whitty was born in Ireland, and at an early age moved with her parents to Canada, where she was married to Lawrence Kelly, later coming to Iowa and settling in Paint Creek township, which had since been her home.

Mrs. Kelly was the mother of twelve children, two sons, Timothy and Francis, and three daughters, Mrs. Thos. Slattery, Mrs. Michael Larkin and Mrs. Chris Byres preceding her in death. Also several grandchildren, among them two who had grown to manhood, Paschal Slattery, who made the supreme sacrifice in the word war and now sleeps in sunny France, and Michael Larkin, who accidental death on January 31, was the final cross for this dear old lady whose faith in God and whose patience, like holy Job, had been put to the severest tests, and the admirable manner in which she stood that last ordeal like all others, only shows how great she was.

Ever patient, loving and kind, with an unselfishness which meant many sacrifices, hers was a beautiful life, and beautiful was her death. Surrounded by her dear ones and fortified by the last rites of the Catholic Church, of which she was a faithful member, her life went out, as has been said, "as the setting sun amid a blaze of glory."

Deceased is survived by five sons and two daughters, John and M.D. of Harpers Ferry; James and Mrs. B.J. Dillon of Waterville; Mrs. D.F. Heffern, Peter and Joseph at home; thirty-two grandchildren and six great grandchildren; two brothers, James Whitty of Oshkosh, Wis., and Michael Whitty of South Africa, besides a host of other relatives and friends.

The funeral, which was held at Cherry Mound Church Tuesday, Feb. 21, was said by many to be the largest ever seen here. Solemn requiem high mass was celebrated by Rev. M.D. O'Neill, Park Hill, Ontario, celebrant; Rev. J. Horsfield, McGregor, deacon; Rev. D.J. Neenan, Cherry Mound, subdeacon; and Rev. M. Nolan, Harpers Ferry, master of ceremonies. The pastor, Rev. Father Neenan, de-[remainder of word cut off]

~The Witness, Dubuque, IA, Thursday, March 23, 1922