Callahan, Elizabeth, Mrs. Bernard, 1860-1940

CALLAHAN, GAFFNEY

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 9/30/2010 at 19:50:11

DEATH CLAIMS OLD RESIDENT
MRS. E. CALLAHAN DIED LAST FRIDAY AFTERNOON
Was Past 79 Years of Age and Lived in Hawarden Over Fifty Years.--Funeral Held Monday

Mrs. Elizabeth Callahan, for fifty years a well known resident of Hawarden, passed away about 5 o'clock last Friday afternoon [July 19] at the Hawarden hospital where she had been a patient since June 4th. On the morning of June 4th she suffered a fractured hip when she slipped and fell in the front yard at her home. She was immediately removed to the hospital but due to her advanced years and her generally weakened condition complications developed which resulted in her death. She had been in failing health for the past few years although she had been able to be about and to attend to her household duties most of the time prior to suffering the injury.

Funeral services were held at St. Mary's Catholic church in this city at 9 o'clock Monday morning with Rev. Fr. R. Graf in charge. Burial was in the Catholic cemetery at Maurice beside her two sons, who preceded her in death many years ago.

Elizabeth Gaffney was born in Jackson county, Iowa, December 31, 1860 and would have been 80 years of age on the last day of this year. She grew to young womanhood in Jackson county and in 1884 was united in marriage with Bernard Callahan at Sabula. She continued to live in Jackson county until 1888 when she came to Sioux county and for about a year made her home with her sister, Mrs. M. McNally and family, in Washington township. Then she purchased a home in Hawarden and has resided here continuously since that time. Her husband preceded her in death many years ago as did her two sons, Francis, who died at the age of 2 years, and John, who passed away when 14 years of age. Since then she has continued to live alone and for many years occupied an apartment in the Lind block. A year or so ago she again purchased a home north of the Sinclair service station where she resided until the accident which confined her to the hospital.

Mrs. Callahan's closest surviving relatives are nephews and nieces, M. J. and John H. McNally, Mrs. A. G. Earley and James O'Meara, all of this immediate community; Mrs. R. H. Nolan of Washta, Iowa; Mike Gaffney of Winner, S.D.; and Ed. Doyle of Jackson county, Iowa.

Mrs. Callahan was a rugged individualist and among the community's best known personages over a fifty-year period. Compelled by circumstances to make her own way in the world during the greater part of her adult life, she accepted the challenge bravely and by reason of hard work and the practice of frugality she remained self-supporting throughout her life. Her will power and determination enabled her to cope with life's problems successfully. Plain and outspoken, she possessed a keen mind and a ready wit which always made her good company and endeared her to many long time friends. No one could impose upon her without feeling the sting of rebuke, and yet she possessed a generous heart and a sympathetic understanding which made her the friend of all in less fortunate circumstances. She could almost be regarded as a Hawarden institution and her death is mourned by many friends.

Out of town relatives and friends who attended the funeral were Mrs. R. H. Nolan of Washta; Mrs. Hannah Clark, Wm. Dealy, Ed. Dealy and Mr. and Mrs. Frank Earley of Sioux City; Mr. and Mrs. John White of Ida Grove; Mr. and Mrs. Edmund Lavelle of LeMars; Mr. and Mrs. Fred Trudeau of Alcester; Mr. and Mrs. Robert Waterbury of Akron, and Mr. and Mrs. James McGrory of Ireton.

Source: Hawarden Independent, July 25, 1940.

Parents: Michael and Alice Gaffney (from census records)