Fonda, Helen Clementine 1835-1933

FONDA

Posted By: S. Ferrall - IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 9/8/2015 at 19:02:01

Monona - Miss Helen Clementine Fonda, who last Thursday passed her 98th milestone and was therefore Monona's oldest citizen, died at her home last Sunday night, July 22nd. Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon of this week from the late home with burial in the city cemetery, the Rev. G.T. Vieth officiating.

Miss Helen Clementine Fonda was born ninety-eight years ago in West Troy, New York, on the twenty-seventh day of July, 1835. In October of 1855, she with her parents, brothers and sisters, came west, settling in Monona.

It was in this vicinity that she taught school for many years. Later she went to Dakota, where she had a claim, and also taught school while there. She returned in 1883 and has made her home in Monona ever since.

"Aunt Clem", as she is better known to everyone in Monona, is the last living member of a family of twelve children. Nine of these children grew to manhood and womanhood and each and every one lived to a ripe old age. The average age of these nine children was ninety-six years.

"Aunt Clem" has been a faithful member of the Pilgrim's Evangelical church and always attended the services [illegible] as long as she was able. She often apologized to her pastor for not being able to attend services more regularly in the later years, but she was always told that she had done her best and most of us would do well if we, like her, could attend services until our ninetieth year.

Several years ago the deceased suffered a fall, which fractured her hip and as a result of this she had become bedfast, however, she received the best of care from her niece, Miss G. Helen Fonda, with whom she had made her home for many years.

Clayton County Register, July 27, 1933