McDONALD, Ellen (Welsh) 1857 - 1935

MCDONALD, WELSH, PETERS, FINNEGAN, BRODERICK, MERWIN, SAWVELLE

Posted By: Cindy Maust Smith (email)
Date: 9/3/2020 at 14:40:08

The Monona Leader, Thursday, November 28, 1935, Monona, Iowa, Page 2

The death of Mrs. Ellen McDonald, for twenty-six years a resident of Monona, occured Wednesday, November 20, 1935, at Waukon, Iowa, at the home of Mrs. J.P. Broderick, following an illness of several weeks duration, in the course of which everything that loving hearts and hands could do was done to mitigate her sufferings, and stay if possible, the hand of Death, but all these ministrations proved unavailing, and she died, as she had lived, peacefully in the embrace of her saviour, to Whom she had given so many years of dutiful service during a long and well spent life.

The deceased was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Welsh. She was born in Allamakee county, November 6, 1857 and had attained her 78th birthday. On January 1, 18(?)7 she was united in marriage with John McDonald at the Paint Creek Catholic church.

To this union were born five children, one of whom, a daughter Alice, passed away in infancy. Those who survive are Mrs. George Peters, Monona, Mrs. John Finnegan, Marquette; Mrs. J.P. Broderick, Waukon; and Mrs. B.F. Finnegan, Oacoma, S.D. There are also twenty-one grandchildren and a great-grandchild. She is also survived by two sisters, Mrs. Charles Merwin, La Crosse, and Mrs. Frank Sawvelle of Marquette.

Mrs. McDonald was an exemplary Christian woman in every respect. She counted no sacrifice too great or no duty to exacting to be made in behalf of those endeared to her by loving ties of blood or friendship. In her diadem of virtues the most understanding was her sincere humility of soul without which no Christian life is truly perfect.

She was an ardent Catholic, and died fortified, with the last rites of that religon. For many years she was a member of the Rosary Confraternity of St. Patrick's church this city, and at all times showed herself a loyal and untiring worker in the manifold activities of that organization.

She will be long and sadly missed by the immediate members of her family, who have lost a good mother and whose hearts are laden with sorrow in having to say an earthly farewell to such a mother. She also will be missed by a large circle of friends, who knew her as a loyal friend, one of God's noblewoman as it were. Truly in the passing of this good woman, the community has lost an estimable citizen, the church a devoted member, the family a loving mother and grandmother, and heaven has claimed another saint.

The funeral services were conducted Friday morning, November 22, 1935 at St. Patrick's Catholic church in Monona. A grandson, Rev. Father D.G. Peters, Cedar Rapids, was celebrant of the solemn high requiem mass. Rev. Father V.J. Peters, Dubuque, a cousin of the celebrant, was deacon, and Rev. Father Luke Donlan, Monona, was sub-deacon of the mass. Reverend Vernon Peters preached an eloquent funeral sermon in which he extolled the deceased laying especial stress upon the fact at all times an ardent exponent of her faith.

Burial was made in St. Pius Catholic cemetery at Cherry Mound beside her husband who preceded her in death twenty-seven years ago.

Eight grandchildren served as pallbearers. They were Marcellus, Donald, and Clair Finnegan; John, James, and Gregory Peters; Bernard Finnegan and John Broderick, Jr.

Out-of-town mourners and friends attending the funeral were: Rev. D.G. Peters, Cedar Rapids; Rev. V.J. Peters, Dubuque; Mr. and Mrs. J.P. Broderick , Helen, James, Rosella and John Francis Broderick, Mrs. P. Gallagher, Mrs. R. Pratt, Waukon; Mrs. John Finnegan, Donald and Kathleen Finnegan, Mrs. J. Whelan, Mrs. R. Campbell, Mrs. J. Dempsey, Mrs. F. Breckler, Mrs. Frank Sawvell, Mrs. R. Soyre, Mrs. W. Deyo, and Mrs. O'Connell, Marquette; Clair Finnegan, McGregor; Marcellus Finnegan, Oakville, Iowa; Mr.and Mrs. B.F. Finnegan, Ellen, Marie, Virgil, Mary, and Bernard Finnegan, Oacoma, S.D.; Mr. and Mrs. Charles Merwin, La Crosse, Wis.; Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Donald, Waterville; Mrs. Rose Dunn, Waukon Jct.; Mr. and Mrs. Cyril Dougherty, Thomas Baker, Cherry Mound, Margaret Broderick, Chicago.