Lusania Violy Sibley Center (1850-1925)

CENTER, BIERNATZKI, SIBLEY, HOLTBY

Posted By: Gail and Dennis Bell
Date: 6/28/2005 at 05:55:51

THE MAXWELL TRIBUNE, Maxwell, Story County, Iowa, Novermber 12, 1925, Page 1, Column 5. "MRS. LUSANIA CENTER – Mrs. Lusania Center, a school teacher in Jasper county in pioneer days, passed away Friday, October 30, while on a visit to the home of her sister, Mrs. A. C. Biernatzki, at Aurora, Ill., following a few days illness of pneumonia. Lusania Viola Sibley was born in Bloomfield, Wis., September 5, 1850. She died at the home of her sister, Mrs. A. C. Biernatzki, Aurora, Ill., October 30, 1925. February 15, 1891, she was united in marriage to Dr. H. H. Center, of State Center, Iowa, who died in March, 1919. She was a charter member of the Lucy Fellows Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution at State Center, which was named in honor of her mother, who was a real daughter of the Revolution. Upon Mrs. Center’s removal to Marshalltown she transrferred her membership to the Marshalltown Chapter of which she was later Regent. She also served o the National committee of Real Daughters. Mrs. Center was a woman of strong character and of deep religious conviction. She was always interested in church and missionary work and always met with pleasure any duties that were imposed upon her. At the time of her death she was a member of the Presbyterian church of Marshalltown, having transferred her membership from the Presbyterian church of State Center, of which whe was long an active and valued member. Mrs. Center is survived by her sister, Mrs. A. C. Biernatzki, of Aurora, Ill., and her brother, Stephen H. Sibley, of Burns, Wyo. Funeral services were held in the Presbyterian church at State Center, Sunday afternoon, November 1, at 2:30, a large concourse of friends gathering to pay their last tribute of love and respect. Rev. C. D. Jacobs, of Marshalltown, assisted by Rev. J. C. Albright, …. Rev. Jacobs choosing for his text, "I shall be satisfied." Mr. and Mrs. James Allison and Mrs. Carrie Fitch-Wilson, life long friends of Mrs. Center, gave a number of beautiful selections, vocal and piano. The casket was laden with flowers, gifts of friends, relatives and various organizations, among the latter the Missionary Society and Adult Bible class of the local church, and Ladies Reading Circle. The pall bearers were: J. W. Tummel, R. Robinson, W. E. Watson, J. L. McMahon, W. A. Carpenter and Geo. Jackson. Mrs. Center was an aunt of Mrs. O. O. Holtby and was well and very favorably known by the older residents in the Peoria community."