Celander, Hannah Lydia Swedlund Fallein (1865-1934)

CELANDER, FALLEIN, SWEDLUND, PETERSON, TEANDER

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 12/12/2020 at 10:52:00

Stratford Courier
January 25, 1934

Mrs. Andrew G. Celander

Funeral services for Mrs. A.G. Celander were held in the Union Park Methodist Church in Des Moines Monday and immediately after the service the funeral cortege drove to the South Marion Cemetery south of Stratford and the remains were interred beside those of her first husband, Jonas Fallein. The Rev. Swan, pastor of the Union Park Church, was in charge of the burial services. A number from Stratford attended the services in the cemetery.

Mrs. Celander, who as Mrs. Hannah Fallein, made her home here for so many years and was so well and favorably known here, was found dead in a chair in her home Thursday. She had not enjoyed good health since the shock of the tragic death of her daughter, Mrs. H.L. Peterson, a few months ago.

Hannah Lydia Swedlund was born in a log cabin on a farm near Stratford [daughter of Peter & Mary Anderson Swedlund] on June 8, 1865. However humble that pioneer home was, it was a Christian home, and in early girlhood she surrendered her young life to the Saviour's keeping and affiliated with her parents' church, the little church in the Swede Bend community, now known as the South Marion Methodist Church.

She was 68 years, 7 months, 13 days old on the day of her death.

She was joined in wedlock to Jonas L. Fallein March 13, 1884. To this union was born four children of whom three survive. A daughter, Mrs. Henry Peterson, was killed in an auto accident four months ago.

When Mr. Fallein was elected county auditor the family moved to Webster City, where he died just after being elected for his second term, a little over ten years after their marriage. Left a widow with four little children dependent upon her she moved back to Stratford and resided there some 26 years.

She was an unusually gifted and devout woman and took her refuge in the Lord. As she sought to be useful in her home church her gifts and consecration became apparent and she was urged to devote her talents in a wider circle of usefulness. She was urged to take up evangelistic work and labored in Kansas and Nebraska as well as in her native state and her daughter, Esther, assisted her. She took a course in the Iowa Methodist Training School for deaconesses to prepare herself the better for the work she loved. She served as pastor of the church at Essex for a brief term. She moved to Des Moines in 1920 and Oct. 23, 1930, she was married to the well known grocer there, Andrew G. Celander, who is left to mourn her departure. For three brief years, Mr. and Mrs. Celander were very happy in their new home on East Twelfth Street until that fateful day when her daughter, Esther's, life was snuffed out in an accident. A blow so sudden and so severe that it seemed as if Mrs. Celander's heart was broken and could never mend until their devoted hearts could be reunited again in that heavenly home where farewell words are never spoken. It was this tragic bereavement that hastened her own departure. The good Lord who created the loving mother heart understandeth all things. But in this hour of sorrow there dwells in the hearts of many of her friends a keen regret that they did not fully sense her desperate need of understanding and sympathy and friendly cheer.

Besides her devoted husband, she leaves to mourn her going, her children and their families: Mrs. Emil Teander of Des Moines; Charles Elmer Fallein of Denver, Colo.; Ellis Wilhelm Fallein of Des Moines. There are also eight grandchildren, and six brothers: Wesley, Elick, Sam, Albert, Oscar and Charley. One brother and one sister died in childhood. the large Celander relationship, who also had learned to love and appreciate her kindly and hospitable spirit, join in mourning her departure.

Deceased had her membership in the First Methodist Church but after her marriage she transferred it to the Union Park Church, where her husband held his membership. During her brief sojourn she made many friends who mourn her death. To know her was to love her. She was so kindly and so sympathetic and loved to show by deeds her friendly attitude and did so many deeds that warmed the heart. It was indeed a privilege to hold spiritual converse with her and her testimony and her prayers shall linger in our memories and remains a precious heritage.