Kerwin, Mary (Finley) 1815 - 1897

KERWIN, FINLEY

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 9/14/2020 at 10:43:48

Elkader Register, Fri. morning, 15 Oct. 1897.

Mrs. Mary Kerwin.

The subject of this sketch, whose death occurred at the home of her nephew in Highland township, in this county, at an early hour on Sunday morning, Oct. 10th, 1897, was born in Queens county, Ireland, about the year 1815. She emigrated to this country at an early age with her brother, the late John Finley, whose death occurred about two years ago. Settling in New York City she was united in marriage to Patrick Kerwin, the fruit of this union being a boy whom they had the misfortune to lose when a lad of tender years, and whose death was soon followed by that of the husband and father, leaving our subject to share alone the double affliction of the loss of husband and only child. Soon after the death of her husband, being about twenty-one years ago, she came west, making her home with her brother John until his death, and has since lived with his nephew, who succeed to his uncle's estate.

The life of Mary Kerwin is worthy of emulation. It is with pleasure, weighted with sorrow, that the writer pens these lines for a departed friend, it seems a cruel privilege to do so for one whose heart is full of gratitude is best equipped for silence. Would that we could write her life as she deserves it written. To pay a fitting tribute to the memory of the departed would seem to require something more adequate than language can afford.

We may truly say that of the many womanly virtues she possessed them all, and in a marked degree. Always ready to assist any person in need she never considered any sacrifice enough, for the church or for those she loved. As the infirmities of age crept upon her she would conceal her suffering lest she might cause worry or inconvenience to her friends. Her death was sudden although not unexpected, and we have reason to believe it was a happy death. Fortified with all the rites of the church of which she was a devoted and consistent member, she passed to receive the reward which her long and well spent life so richly merited.

Her remains were brought to the Catholic church last Tuesday where a solemn requiem mass was celebrated by Rev. Father Reilly, assisted by Father O'Donnell, of McGregor, and Father Raedler, of Garnavillo, after which they were laid to rest beside that of her brother in the Catholic cemetery at Elkader followed by a large concourse of sorrowing friends and neighbors. May her soul rest in Peace.