Elizabeth Riechers Harkin

RIECHERS, HARKIN, BIGELOW, FEREDAY, DEBOW, LINTON

Posted By: Raven Thomas (email)
Date: 6/22/2005 at 01:50:26

Funeral notice for Mrs. Chas. Harkin
Mrs. Chas. Harkin who has been in failing health for several years and a helpless invalid for many months passed to her reward in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Funeral services will be held today, Thursday, at 2 o'clock at the Christian Church.

Obituary:
Mrs. Chas. Harkin Passes
Dear mother, we're lonesome without you;
we long for the light of your smile.
We are thinking and dreaming about you;
We have parted, but just for a while.
The years that you toiled for us only;
The nights that you spent by our side
Will ever bring sweet recollections
Through the years in this world we abide.
When our troubles and fears seemed enormous
You came with a smile full of cheer,
You lightened our burden of sorrow
And laughed away every tear
Your voice, like the voice of an angel,
Was comfort in days of despair.
Your unbounded love and forgiveness
made this lief look noble and fair.
You gave us a faith, sweet and Holy;
You taught us to love and obey;
But mother, though God took you from us,
your spirit is with us to stay.

Elizabeth LaVerle Riechers was born in Fayette county, Iowa, May 14, 1863, and passed away at her home with her daughter in Arlington, Iowa, Tuesday, November 14, 1933 at four o'clock in the morning. Her children, never in all their lives, very far distant, were at her bedside when the final summons came.
She was united in marriage February 13 1890, to Charles Hugh Harkin, who died November 17, 1917. Mr. Harkin was in very poor health a number of years before his death, and his wife was with him almost constantly, giving him loving care.
To this union were born four children: Lloyd L., and Nellie May, and two who died in infancy.
Mrs. Harkin was a member of Silver Maple Camp, No. 251, Royal Neighbors of America for many years. She had been in poor health the past seven years, most of this time she was cared for at her home by her daughter, Mrs. Fred Bigelow, who resided with her mother, where every care was given to her an Loving affection was bestowed upon her.
At the time of her death she had reached the age of 70 years, six months, and ten days, most of this time was spent in Fayette county, except for four years in O'Brien county, Iowa.
She leaves to mourn her loss, her son, Lloyd L. Harkin, of Arlington; one daughter, Nellie May Bigelow, of Arlington; three sisters, Mrs. Mary Fereday, Mrs. Dora DeBow, who were ill and not able to be here, and Mrs. Louise Linton, all of Oelwein; on brother,John Riechers, Of Aurora; seven grandchildren and many relatives and friends.
She was a loving mother and a kind and affectionate neighbor and friend.
Funeral services in charge of Rev. Louis B. Smith, pastor of the Church of Christ, were held Thursday afternoon at two o'clock from the church. Just sixteen years after the death of her beloved husband she was laid to rest beside him in the family lot in Union cemetery. Here too, in childhood days, before this burial ground was plotted, this same Union cemetery where she now rests, was her childhood playground and her parental home, now occupied by her brother, still stands just across the way.

Card of Thanks
We wish to express our appreciation and thanks for all the kindness to our dearly beloved mother during her long illness. We also wish to extend our sincerest thanks to friends and neighbors for assistance and sympathy in our bereavement. We thank those who sent flowers, the singers, casket bearers, and those who furnished cars; for all the innumerable kindnesses we are appreciative and truly grateful to each and every one.

Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Harkin

Mr. and Mrs. Fred Bigelow

and families.

Source: My grandmother's obituary collection