Winifred May Cheney 1882-1897

CHENEY

Posted By: Volunteer - Karen DaPra
Date: 10/12/2002 at 06:38:35

IN MEMORIAM

Winifred May Cheney, second daughter of D. W. and Elizabeth S. Cheney, was born in Bonaparte May 9, 1882, and died at her home three miles north of Bonaparte, January 14, 1897, aged 14 years 8 months and 5 days.

Death, infinitely sad and terrible when he snatches to his embrace any loved one, becomes doubly, trebly so when the victim selected is a beautiful young girl. Standing at the place of life where all the shadows are slanting toward the west, and when the grace of form, disposition and character are opening like a rose before the delighted gaze of loving friends, the life of a lovely, pure, bright being such as Winnie was, is almost too holy to be taken. Fair and amicable, the center of a circle of admiring friends, her life was intimately bound up with the happiness of many others. In school life she made an unusually large number of friends, who will never forget her sweet face, pleasant manner and kind heart. What had been one of the brightest and happiest of homes has been cast into darkness and has suffered a loss it can never cease to feel.

Winnie had been attending the Bonaparte school during the past two years, and was always found among the busiest workers. Retiring from the school room on Friday afternoon, in one short week the "silver cord is loosed and the pitcher lies broken at the well." Her sickness, short as it was, displayed an unselfish, spotless character. Although she had been frail for several years and much petted by all, her disposition was not injured by it. After she realized that she could not live, she was perfectly resigned and retained consciousness to the last, making a distribution of many little keepsakes and bidding all "good bye." Her sufferings ceased some three hours before she breathed her last, finally dropping to sleep.

She was laid to rest in the Bonaparte cemetery, there to [cut-off]

(Photocopy of this obit is located on page 45 of Obit Book A found in the Van Buren County, Iowa Genealogical Society's collection at the Keosauqua Public Library in November 1999. Name and date of newspaper not given.)

I am NOT related to this person and am posting it for those who may find him/her in their family tree.

[Original Post 14 January 2000]