Ann (Kielly) Donnelly (1858-1923)

KIELLY, DONNELLY, SHELTON, MCGUIRE

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:12

From Nevada Evening Journal August 13, 1923 (page 2)

PASSING OF A PIONEER.

Mrs. Ann Donnelly Was Old Time Resident.

Colo, Aug. 1 -- In the passing of Mrs. Ann Donnelley who died at her home in Colo a week ago, that community lost one of its real pioneers and a woman who was known for her many splendid characteristics.

The funeral services were held Saturday morning, August 4, at St. Mary's church and interment was in St. James cemetery by the side of her husband, who died 12 years ago.

Mrs. Ann Donnelly was born in Limerick, Ireland, May 20, 1839, and passed to the Great Beyond August 2, 1923. Her childhood was spent at her home and in London. In her early girlhood she came to the U. S. living in new Jersey and New York. From the east she came to Freeport, Ill., where she was married to Nicholas Donnelly, June 8, 1858. They established their home there but later drove across country to Epworth, Ia., and in March 1881 still further into New Albany township, Story Co., where they lived and made a permanent home on the prairie. They were the parents of ten children, Christopher and Anna having died in infancy, and Mrs. Mary Sheldon and Mrs. Bridget McGuire in recent years. Those remaining to mourn the loss of their mother are: Mrs. Ella Carmody of Freeport, Ill., Mrs. Alice Blink of Nichols, Wis., Mrs. Agnes Orr, Misses Margaret and Kathryn Donnelly of Colo and one son, J. F. at the old homestead. All her children were with her through the last hours of her lingering illness, and her one brother, John Kielly of Waterloo.

One by one they are passing away--
The old of our town to their final rest,
With reverence, fashion the pillow of clay,
And pile up the sods on the quiet breast.
The pillow is soft to the time worn head
That sod is light to the aged dead.
They have borne their burdens of joys and pains,
They have had their portions of hopes and fears;
They have wrought out their wars, they have gained their gains,
They have smiled their smiles; they have wept their tears.
It is over now, the records close
And leave them there to their long repose.
Their history is what ours shall be,
Speak of them, think of them tenderly.

Mrs. Donnelly was known to all as a good neighbor, a comfort in all trouble, a help in all illness, her hands have relieved sickness and suffering, her cheerful voice lightened many heavy hearts. The love and esteem for her was shown in the offerings of help during her illness and by the hosts of friends who came to sympathize with the family at her passing and attend the services soon the burial day.

Those present from a distance at the funeral which was held Saturday, Aug. 4, at the church, were: Mrs. Carmody and daughters, Eileen and Kathleen of Freeport, Ill., Mrs. Albert Blink of Nichols, Wis., John Kiely, Mrs. Kate Gormand and niece, Miss Irene Messeler of Waterloo, Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Keily of State Center, Mr. and Mrs. Will Sawtell of Milbourne, Mr. and Mrs. Lee Blink of Marshalltown, Mr. and Mrs. Doug Gearhart and Mrs. Rose Smith of Maxwell and other friends from Rhodes, Zearing, Nevada and Collins and vicnities.