Mary Hefron, Obituary/Death NoticePorter County obituaries and death notices . . . .

Mary Hefron

IN MEMORIUM.

From off the mountains of eternal time
The days and years roll down like shifting sands,
Though we may build up works or art sublime,
Naught of our handiwork forever stands;
For nothing of this earth will always bide --
Even life itself is but a slow decay --
And, born along on Time's resistless tide,
All things we know and love shall pass away.
Then when the brimming cup of life is drained,
And DEATH, in grim derison, cries, "No more!"
May retrospection find a soul not stained
'Twould meet no welcome on the Heavenly shore
But may we answer Death with happy heart; --
"Thou hast been so long in coming ! Do thy part!"

If a funeral cortege in itself presents a saddening aspect, because it not only reminds us of human decay and of the infinite decree of an offended God; "Dust thou art and unto dust thou shalt return" but also shows us wounded hearts, who are closely connected with the one, that sleeps in death's embrace, we nevertheless meet cases in which sorrow shows its mightier traces, because the gap which is left in the golden chain of former happiness is wider, the wound much deeper, the loss more circumspect and greater. Such a case was presented to us on last Tuesday, when the remains of Mrs. Mary Hefron were sad and solemnly conveyed from her late residence to the Catholic church of this place. Three months ago the signs of decease made their appearance and though nothing serious was apprehended it soon became apparent, that it was more than a passing malady. Nine weeks ago the deceased reclined upon her couch of sickness, from which she ne'er rose again. With slow but sure pace consumption marked its path of destruction and ultimate decay. Mrs. Mary Hefron was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Moroney, born to them on the 20th of August, 1857. Her father having died in 1870 she made her home with her aunt Mrs. H. Moroney. Of gentle and retiring disposition, her amiable demeanor and true religious spirit was looked upon as an example for her companions. In the year of our Lord 1885 Mr. Wm. Hefron, a well-known young man of this town won her heart's affections, and on the 14th of October of the same year the two knelt at the foot of the altar in St. Patrick's church, making their solemn promises before God and asking His blessings, that happily united, they might walk the weary path of life. Little did any one of then think that their marital happiness should be of such short duration. Having settled down to the arduous duty of actual life, her only strife was to make home as happy as could be. Home was her only thought, her only care; and it was this unaffected sense of duty that made her dear as a neighbor. Having lengthened the golden chain of marital happiness by the honor of motherhood and adorned its beauty by the precious gem of a beautiful daughter, happiness seemed to be complete. What a lesson! Then when happiness seems to have reached the peak of perfection, man only begins to see the fickleness and fleetness of temporal felicity. It was here, that the master called a halt and summoned the soul to return to its maker. It is not necessary that the clock should run down, or that many years should destroy the usefulness of its mechanism. The master can stop it, can command a halt, with the slightest touch of his finger. Thus also with man. There is no necessity of a long life to destroy the strength of the human body, or old age to weaken the members thereof. Thus in her thirty-first year the fatal malady of consumption tore away from the side of a loving husband the one he prized as the greatest treasure of his wealth here below. All indeed was done to stay and amerliorate the long suffering. All that could be thought of was used, every doctor, whose skill might avail something was called for consultation, yet with sorrowing hearts, loved ones only enriched her couch, to see how her sufferings became more pressing, as they lingered on. Loved ones would sweeten the chalice of suffering, but they could not; they would lighten the pressing pain, but found themselves powerless; would shorten the days of suffering, but to no purpose; would give hope of recover, give new strength and life; but hope vanishes, strength ceases and the patient dies. This, the lot of man, when higher power shows, that the decrees of infinite wisdon, cannot be changed by the frail power of mortal or even understood by his limited intellect. What consolation therefore in the hour and suffering of death, if our life has been fortified and spent in the service of Christ. Taking part in Christ's sufferings, the true Christian soul, who has performed her duty in life, stands, suffering at the foot of the cross, looking with the eye of a firm faith beyond this vale of tears, and from the glorious realms of eternity the rays of Easter more trickle balm of consolation into the weary soul, give it patience during the painful and lingering days of suffering and sweeten the bitter pains of death. Oh! What a source of consolation, what a fountain of sweetest joy for suffering mankind! The latter was the case of deceased. Often fortified by the rites of the church she gently breathed her last at 7 o'clock Sunday morning. The funeral cortege left the house on Tuesday morning at ten minutes of ten. The solemn, sad strains of music, which resounded through the streets as the procession marched on, made the occasion still more impressive.

Long before service time people began to flock to the church, which was densely crowded on the occasion. The coffin was met at the door by Father Kroll and two altar boys, where he began to chant alternately "De Profundis" with the choir. Whilst the priest had gone to the vestry to vest himself for the sacrifice of the mass the choir rendered the affectionate song of" "Dearest Sister thou hast left us." As the priest approached the altar steps the "Requiem" or mass for the dead was rendered by the choir in true Gregorian chant. At the offertory Miss Alice Demers, of Englewood, rendered in a most accomplished manner the solo: "Over the stars there's rest." At the end of mass the entire choir sang: "Take me to Heaven." Father Kroll then announced the absolution after which he preached a sermon on the words of the 118 Ps. Of David. "My soul shall live and shall praise thee, O Lord, and they judgements shall help me."

Picturing man's entrance into life, he showed how each mortal being, in his struggle for existence, when truly realizing the object of life, would associate himself, as natural and mental development continue, with two other companions: TRUTH and HAPPINESS. Demonstrating these three characteristics in the life a man in general, he proceeded to the application in particular, in regard to the deceased. How she sought the truth ---- divine truth and happiness in the service of God and His loved Mother, whose name she bore in life, and on whose festive day she sought rest from the weary labors of her earthly sojourn.

The choir then rendered the hymn: "Nearer my God to thee," when the mourning throng left to proceed to the cemetery.

Lonely and sad is the home left without a loving spouse and a tender mother, and little knoweth the blue-eyed, innocent orphan, what loss she has sustained.

We hereby extend our heartfelt emotions of sympathy, and close with the words of Father Kroll's sermon: "Ah, all ye whose fond tears of affection flow so freely to-day for the one who now sleeps the cold and silent slumber of death, forget her not! Remember her in your prayers; go often to thee grave of buried love and meditate! You, into whose arms this pure soul cast all her happiness about three years ago, remember her dying requests, and you, whose ties of blood and friendship sorrowing weave chaplets of flowers and strew beauties of nature about the grave, entwine for yourselves garlands of Christian virtues and a crown of flowers to bloom with her for eternity. This will heal the wound of the heart, dry the tear of sorrow, and give new courage to meet her who has gone before.

A FRIEND

Newspaper: The Tribune
Date of Publication: August 9, 1888
Volume Number: 5
Issue Number: 17
Page: 1
Column(s): 1 and 2


Key to Newspaper Publication Locations:
    Newspapers Published in Chesterton, Porter County, Indiana
                Chesterton Tribune
                The Tribune
                Westchester Tribune

    Newspapers Published in Valparaiso, Porter County, Indiana
                Porter County Vidette
                Practical Observer
                Valparaiso Practical Observer
                Vidette and Republic
                Western Ranger

The obituaries and death notices appearing on this website have been transcribed exactly as they were originally published in the newspaper. Please note that we do not provide photocopies or digital scans of obituaries and death notices appearing on this website.

Obituary/death notice transcribed by Steven R. Shook

 

CSS Template by Rambling Soul