Mrs. Mary (Burke) Keefe 1840-1917

BURKE, KEEFE, CROTTY, GRACE, MCDERMOTT, FITZPATRICK, VAN BLARCOM, DEVLIN, CROSTON, BARRETT, BOYLE, ROWAN, MOORE

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 11/2/2016 at 23:20:46

Cascade Pioneer, December 13, 1917, page 4, column 5

Death of Venerable Woman

Mrs. Mary Keefe Called After Month’s Illness

The venerable and respected Mrs. Mary Keefe died at the home of her son, Mayor F. J. Keefe, Sunday night at 10:45. Her last illness was primary due to a broken hip which she sustained when she accidentally fell just thirty days prior to her death. The severe accident proved, too much for her advanced years, and death came finally a relief to her, suffering.

The maiden name of deceased was Mary Burke, daughter of that respected pioneer of Jackson county, and first settler of Butler township, David Burke. She was born in Butler township, Jackson county, on January 1, 1840, and was the first child to receive baptism in the parish of St. Patrick's. She grew to womanhood on the old homestead, and on June 8, 1865, was married to John Keefe, of the
same township. They resided in Garryowen until April, 1902,when they came to Cascade. To their union the following children were born: John J. (deceased); David H., of St. Paul, Minn.; Mrs. Michael Crotty and Mrs. Phillip Grace, of Garryowen; and Mayor F. J. Keefe, of Cascade. The following brother and sisters: Henry Burke, of Seattle, Wash.; Mrs. Fannie McDermott, of Sioux City; Mrs. John Fitzpatrick and Mrs. Kate Van Blarcom, of Garryowen.

Her husband preceded her in death four years ago.

Mrs. Keefe was an ideal Christian woman, a faithful wife, an indulgent mother, and beloved and respected by all of her neighbors and friends. She practiced the Christian virtues taught by her holy religion and passed to her reward sustained and fortified by an unfaltering trust in the promise of happy repose of her soul.

The funeral services were held at St. Martin's church at 9:30 a. m. Monday, Rev. L. Roche officiating, after which the remains were conveyed by automobile hearse to St. Patrick's burial ground at Garryowen, accompanied by many friends and neighbors.

The casket bearers were John O. Devlin, John Croston, Dr. Dan Barrett, Frank Boyle, John Rowan and D. D. Moore.