Gillen, Catharine (Mrs. John) abt 1835 - 1923

GILLEN, HENGEL

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:33

Alton Democrat of Nov 17 1923
Mrs. Catherine Gillen, long a resident of Alton, died Thursday Nov. 15 at the home of her daughter Mrs. Peter Schroeder. Mrs. Gillen passed out peacefully at about 1.20 p.m.. after a few weeks Illness, her death coming asthe result of old age. She was 86 years old. The funeral will be held at St Mary's church Monday morning at nine o'clock. A full obituary will appear in our next issue.

Alton Democrat of Nov 24, 1923

Passing of Aged Alton Resident
Funeral of Mrs. Catharine Gillen Held Monday at St. Mary’s church.

Funeral services for Mrs. Catharine Gillen, who passed on Thursday Nov… 15th were conducted Monday by Very Rev F. J. Brune at St. Mary’s church and the remains laid to rest in St. Mary’s cemetery.

Mrs. Gillen who was over 80 years old had been gradually failing since last June, but kept her keen mentality to the last, quietly passing out at 1:20 Thursday afternoon. She will be missed not only by her children and grand children but by neighbors and friends to whom during her 23 years residence in Alton she was affectionately known as Grandma Gillen.

Six children survive their mother. They are Nic Gillen, Willowdale Kan.; Mrs. Mike Even, Alton; Henry Gillen, Watertown, SD; Mrs. Peter Frederickson of Sioux Falls; Mrs. Walter Gilchrist of Worthington MN; Mrs. Peter Schroeder of Alton. Mrs. Gillen also has two sisters living Mrs. Anna Reis of Portland OR and Mrs. M. Sweeney of Chicago.

Catherine Hengel was born at Hessel Luxembourg Europe on May 21st, 18_7. She came to America wither parents in 1847, the family settling at Port Washington WI. On July 7th 1861 Miss Hengel was married to John Gillen at Eagle Harbor Mich. In 1866 the family moved to a farm near Hartford SD. Where they made their home until 1900, when they came to Alton. Mr. Gillen passed away in January of 1917. For the last 28 years Mrs. Gillen and Mr. Gillen until his death made their home with their daughter Mrs. Peter Schroeder.
Relatives and Friends from a distance were mentioned.

Note: There is a family history story in the church book of St.Mary’s Alton page 145.