Willetts, Selena (Marsh)

WILLETTS, MARSH

Posted By: Lisa Joan Walden (email)
Date: 7/9/2021 at 02:04:43

Mrs. Selena Willetts, wife of Edward Willetts, sen., died at the home of their son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Shakespeare, on the morning of May 16, 1914, at the age of 82 years, 7 months, and 18 days.

She was born in Dudley, Worcestershire, England, September 27, 1831. Married Mr. Willetts, August 10, 1851, and came to America in 1864, during sixteen years living either at Dudley, Pa., or Kewanee, Ill. In 1880 they located at Lucas, Iowa, and in 1891 came to Lamoni.

Their children numbered twelve, of whom nine are living, four sons, William, John, Mark and Edward, jr., and 5 daughters, Mrs. Mary A. Powers, Mrs. Martha Weaklin, Mrs. Sarah Mooney, Mrs. Hannah Shakespeare, and Mrs. Jane Shakespeare; Mrs. Willetts also leaves two sisters, Mrs. Sarah Robinson, Genesee, Illinois, and Mrs. Emma Klinert, Kewanee, Illinois.

To the twelve sons and daughters were born seventy-five children, and to these, forty-eight great-grandchildren and recently came one great-great-grandchild, making a total of one hundred and thirty-six descendants. There have been twenty-eight deaths, leaving now one hundred and eight living posterity.

All but one of the nine children attended their mother's funeral, also many grandchildren, and a few great-grandchildren were present.

On August 10, 1911, was celebrated their sixtieth wedding anniversary at Samuel Shakespeare's, and all the children and many grandchildren were present.

On September 9, 1911, a stroke paralysis, largely disabled Mrs. Willetts, and for nearly three years she has suffered the results, for the last year losing her powers of mind as well as of body, and it has been a very sad time for her and the family.

But her life had been one of faithfulness, of patience, and of loving devotion to every duty to her family, and now, in her extremity of trouble, a full measure of loving attention and faithful care was bestowed upon her to the end.

As to her religious life, it is stated that the husband and wife, while in Pennsylvania in 1868, united with the Methodist church and remained so associated until they became fully satisfied that the full gospel of Jesus Christ and its power and authority had been sent from heaven to men on earth in latter days. Then they accepted it, and on July 28, 1897, were "buried with Christ in baptism," Elder H. A. Stebbins officiating in the ceremony.

In this covenant of grace and truth they have ever since rejoiced, often speaking in praise and thanksgiving because of the truth made known to them from on high; and without doubt, this faithful woman has gone to a happy resting place, in accordance with the promise of Christ, "I will that they also be with me where I am." There she waits the resurrection of the just, even the first resurrection. Rev. I 20: 6.

The aged husband is bereft, but he knows that It can not be long until he also will pass over and be at rest with the loved ones gone before.

The funeral service was held at the home of Samuel Shakespeare. There was a large attendance of people from Lamoni, Evergreen, and Andover, Elder John Smith had charge and H. A. Stebbins preached the sermon.
Text: "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord; yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors and their works do follow them."

Source: The Lamoni Chronicle, published in Lamoni, Iowa on Thursday, May 21st, 1914, pg 1

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