Caroline Hurm Whalen (1841 - 1907)

WHALEN, HURM, MANNING, KELLEHER, BYRNE

Posted By: M. J. Fitzgerald (email)
Date: 10/11/2009 at 18:41:46

Caroline Hurm Whalen died June 13, 1907. Obituary in the June 19, 1907 edition of the Allamakee Journal, Lansing, IA, reads:

MRS. KERNS WHALEN

Death invaded the sacred precincts of the beautiful home of Kerns Whalen in Lafayette, June 13th, and took from those who loved her, the wife and mother. For months previous to her demise Mrs. Whalen had been in an enfeebled condition, and two weeks ago all hopes were dispelled by the verdict of skilled medical authority, who pronounced her case incurable, and the gentle sufferer came to rest surrounded by her sorrowing family. The deceased was a woman possessed of many virtues that endeared her to the hearts of all who knew her. In her home her gentle, motherly counsel and mild, Christian manner made her doubly dear to those comprising the family circle. The void left in the lives of those bereaved can never by filled and we commend them in their great grief to the Giver of all good, Who doeth all things well and bindeth up the broken hearted. Mrs. Whalen’s acquaintance was extensive, her life practically having been spent in this section, and here among her childhood surroundings her beautiful and exemplary life was lived to the edification of all who came in contact with her.

Caroline Barbara Hurm was born at Taylorsville, Ohio, Dec 12, 1841. At the age of eleven she moved with her parents, the late Mat Hurm and wife, to Wexford, Iowa, where she grew to womanhood. Feb. 3, 1863, occurred her marriage to Kerns Whalen at Wexford church by Rev. Father Walsh, deceased. Twelve children, six daughters and six sons, blessed this union, and all survive. With one exception all are residents of Lafayette Township. Their names are as follows: Wm. F., Matthew F., Thos H., Kerns A. of Garnes, Minn., Joseph W., George A., Mrs. M. F. Manning, Mrs., T F. Kelleher, Mrs. J. H. Byrne, Gertrude M. , Cecilia F., Margaretta A.

Over seventy teams followed the remains Saturday morning, June 15, to Immaculate Conception church, Lansing, of which the deceased was a devout member. A Solemn Requiem Mass was chanted, Rev. Father Luedtke being celebrant, Father Laffan deacon, and Father Ryan sub-deacon, after which the body was conveyed to beautiful Gethsemane and laid away from mortal eyes. A notable feature of Mrs. Whalen’s funeral was the six pall bearers, all nephews of the dead. May her soul rest in peace.

God’s grace is given freely, even now,
When life is dreary and all joys have fled.
When those we loved and cherished most of all,
Have gone from earth, and numbered ‘mong the dead.
Flowers will bloom – the sun shine bright as always,
E’en though our eyes are filled with bitter tears.
Her loving counsels and the prayers she said
Will be remembered through the coming years.
Our love for mother none could measure,
No human tongue its depth could ever tell,
But God, who gave, has called her to Himself and we must be content,
He doeth all things well.

A Card of Thanks from her family is published in the same newspaper edition as the obituary that reads:

To the many kind friends and relatives who so nobly assisted us during the last illness of our dear wife and mother by their zealous ministrations to alleviate her suffering during the long vigil, and to the host of friends who by their outward expression of sympathy and condolence, did much to mitigate our sorrow in our bereavement, we tender our sincere and heartfelt thanks.