Florence Foley (1888 - 1908)

FOLEY, COLEMAN, FENNELL, GEARY, BROWNRIGG, FITZGERALD, DINEEN, OBRYAN, SCIESZINSKI, SCIESINSKI, JUDGE

Posted By: DJ Scieszinski
Date: 8/4/2018 at 10:46:08

Monroe County News
Thursday, May 14, 1908

YOUNG LIFE CLOSES

Miss Florence Foley a Well Known Wayne Township Young Woman Died Monday Morning

Tyrone, Iowa, May 11 - Miss Florence Foley, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Foley of Wayne Township, died at the home of her parents four miles north of Melrose at an early hour this morning. The young lady had been ill for several months and dissolution was not wholly unexpected. It comes as a shock to her large circle of friends, who will mourn for a young life so soon terminated. She leaves besides her parents, several brothers and sisters to mourn her departure. The funeral will probably be held tomorrow from the Catholic church in Melrose, but as yet no arrangements have been made.
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Monroe County News
Thursday, June 4th, 1908

Obituary

Miss Florence Foley died at the parental residence in Wayne township, Monroe County, Iowa, May 11, 1908.

The funeral was held on the 13th from her home to the Catholic church at Melrose, where Rev. Father Brownrigg celebrated a requiem mass. The funeral discourse by him on this occasion was beautiful in its tenderness and one more respectful we never heard. He spoke in high commendation of the character of this young lady whose life was cut off as a flower in perfect bloom.

Her remains were interred in the cemetery south of town. The pall bearers were from among her girlfriends: Miss Anna Fitzgerald, Margaret Dineen, Margaret O'Bryan, Katie Scieszinski, Mayme and Anna Judge. Her casket was white and she was buried beneath a wealth of flowers and floral pieces, the memories of her friends.

Florence, daughter of James and Mary Foley, was twenty years old in January. About two years ago, while ministering to the sick, she contracted the ailment which caused her untimely death. To save her life neither time nor means were limited. She had the best medical assistance available. In the spring of last year her devoted mother and brother accompanied her to a health resort in the high altitude of Colorado. For awhile the insidious affliction seemed to surrender and her folks returned home. Florence bravely enduring the solitude and all that is prescribed for this disease to regain her health, but it returned in a more pronounced form and in the early winter she came home to die among those she loved.

Though she coveted life, she at last welcomed death as the physician who cures every sickness. This girl manifested during all the time of her illness the firmest faith in the saving grace of God. The unanswered question so often asked: “Shall we live after death?” never crossed her lips. She seemed to know that beyond the grave is that perfect life reached only through the gate of death. To the good there is nothing appalling in the approach or presence of death - the natural way of deliverance, for her to vision the hope of immortality rises above all doubts and fears.

We have known Florence since her childhood. She possessed those traits which in the young we admire. She was beloved by father, mother, sisters, brothers, neighbors, friends - all, and till her soul whispered adieu she was the same constant, dutiful daughter. She wished to do good.

None of us may expect, however, to win, here all that is desirable. Life at best is too short, its powers of endurance too limited for one who like Florence is disposed to do good. Many a neighbor and sick friend can attest to her kind ministrations which are characteristic of the Foley family. In return they have had the sympathy and help of every neighbor in this sad bereavement. The long funeral train from the home on this occasion, evidenced the heartfelt sympathy of the entire community for the grief stricken family, and the love of every one for Florence Foley. W.