Kamrar, Frances Sabin (1845-1904)

KAMRAR, SABIN, SABEN

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 2/7/2021 at 09:54:20

Webster City Journal, Webster City, Iowa, Thursday, December 1, 1904

REST COMES TO MRS. KAMRAR

Wife of J.L. Kamrar Passes Away at Eight O'Clock Monday Evening.

AFTER YEARS OF SUFFERING

Was Afflicted With An Incurable Disease - Funeral Wednesday Afternoon at Three

After three years of patient suffering from disease which baffled the highest medical and surgical science in the United States, Mrs. J.L. Kamrar passed to her final reward and peace Monday night, Nov. 28, 1904, at eight o'clock at the family home on Willson avenue surrounded by the members of her family.

Her death does not come unexpected as she had grown steadily worse day by day and the members of the family and intimate friends were not unprepared to hear the message which came from the residence early Monday. Nevertheless, the city was shocked to hear of the death of this good woman who has been so prominently identified with Webster City and a member of one of the leading families for nearly forty years.

Death was caused by cancer after all that the best science in the country could suggest had proved unavailing, the first evidences appearing three years ago. It was two years ago that Mrs. Kamrar was taken to Chicago where she scoured the services of all the skill the leading cities could present and the best care in private hospitals. Nothing that specialists could suggest was left untried in the fight for life and health, but it proved to be of no avail and, early last summer, at her request, she was brought to her home in this city where she remained in patient waiting for the end which brought peace and rest Monday evening.

Her patience in suffering and the resignation with which she bore her agony alone were as beautiful as her quiet and peaceful life had been and was the marvel of the immediate members of the family. When every means known to medical science had failed to arrest the ravages of the disease and she knew that she must die, she heroically approached the end and, by her every action, expressed the constant desire that she be allowed to "tread the wine-press alone."

During the past few months she saw her loved ones only for a few moments each day and each day she greeted them with a smile of love, her pale, wan face being the only evidence of her suffering, and no sooner had they left the room than her moaning gave evidence of her pain and the fact that she desired to bring no heart-aches to her loved ones. That she was a noble, Christian woman was clearly evidenced by her patient resignation during her long and painful illness.

Near the close of life, when she knew that she must go, she said, "I united with the church when a child and I have never lost my trust in my Master; I have no fears for the future, I am ready to go and am only waiting for His call." Time and again she called for her loved ones and said "good-bye," thinking the call had come, but the Master was not yet ready to take her hand. Sunday night in a beautiful calm she talked to the family of her going as she had not done before. She quietly arranged for the funeral service and asked that her favorite sacred solo, "My Hope is In the Everlasting," so often beautifully sung by her departed daughter, be used at the service. At the home Wednesday the friends of the family witnessed the beautiful service just as arranged by the departed before her death.

Never in the history of Webster City has there been a case of suffering and death that has elicited such universal sympathy and sorrow from all our people, for how true it is that

"We share our mutual woes,
Our mutual burdens bear,
And often for each other falls
The sympathizing tear."

Frances A. Sabin was born in Freeport, Ill., Aug. 28, 1845, and was fifty-nine years of age at the time of her death. She was united in marriage to Mr. Kamrar on October 5, 1865. The family was composed of five children: Harris Sabin, Katherine A., Eva F., Russell H., and John R. The latter three are still living. One sister, Mrs. H.H. Winter, of Topeka, Kansas, also survives her. Mrs. Kamrar was united with the Presbyterian church when a school girl and her pastor, Rev. Casey, officiated at her wedding.

The funeral services were held at the residence on Willson avenue Wednesday afternoon at three o'clock. Rev. J.O. Thrush, of the Congregational church, will preside.

[her maiden name was misspelled in her son's obituary so I put in both spellings]