Reading this, I wonder... I never thought about it before, but why is it tradition for pall bearers to be guys? Or is it just traditon in our family? Anyone have any thoughts? ----- Original Message ----- From: "Nancee Seifert" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, December 06, 2009 2:47 PM Subject: [IADECATU] DEATH OF MIDA ALMA TEATERS > Decatur County Journal > Leon, Iowa > Thursday, October 5, 1911 > > MIDA ALMA TEATERS, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. S.M. TEATERS, was born January > 11, 1889 in Wayne County, Iowa, and died in Leon, Iowa, September 27, > 1911, > at the age of 22 years, 8 months and 16 days. > > The deceased had not been strong during her life and on Wednesday morning > suddenly passed away. The funeral was held from the Methodist Church > Thursday at 2:30, conducted by the Pastor E.M. Hoff. The body was laid to > rest in the Leon Cemetery. The pall bearers were six young ladies, Misses > Goldie Smith, Nellie Gloaker, Theda Hinds, Bertha DeWece, Mabel Smith, > Mrs. > Roy Gore. > > The family have the sympathy of many friends in this hour of sorrow. > -------------------------------------------------------- > Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert > December 6, 2009 > [email protected] > > This says so little about her........ > > www.iagenweb.org/decatur > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message
About Pall bearers: This is the first time I've seen an obit from that time with female pall bearers. I believe it was all males because of the heavy weight to carry. However, now the coffin is often on a wheeled "carrier", and when my in-laws died, the grandchildren, females included, all helped. The only lifting was in and out of the hearse. Sad day, but the girls felt more a part of the service, and the physical weight was a privilege. Kathleen
Some of the young girls' obituaries that I've transcribed, show the pall bearers being their young girl friends.. Such an honor that must have been for them and the family of the deceased. I'm not sure where the term 'pall bearers' came into being; Webster's says the word 'pall' means: something that covers with darkness or gloom; a cloth for spreading over a coffin. Webster's says the words 'pall bearer' mean: one of several persons who carry or attend the coffin at a funeral. (food for thought).. Nancee -------Original Message------- From: Kathleen Deao Date: 12/8/2009 9:41:43 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [IADECATU] DEATH OF MIDA ALMA TEATERS About Pall bearers: This is the first time I've seen an obit from that Time with female pall bearers. I believe it was all males because of The heavy weight to carry. However, now the coffin is often on a Wheeled "carrier", and when my in-laws died, the grandchildren, Females included, all helped. The only lifting was in and out of the Hearse. Sad day, but the girls felt more a part of the service, and The physical weight was a privilege. Kathleen www.iagenweb.org/decatur ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message
J. J. Farrell, in Inventing the American Way of Death, 18301920 (1980), describes common funeral-related practices that prevailed through the mid-to-late 1800s among people of European descent. Most people died at home during this period, and funerals and burials were handled by the immediate family and neighbors. After the death, women in the family would wash, dress and prepare the body for burial. Men were responsible for making the plain wood coffin or securing it from the local carpenter. Male survivors dug the grave, and in some cases carved the grave stone. The wake was typically held at home, followed by a committal service at grave-side. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Nancee's notes: It was also quite common for families who had loved ones die during terrible winters, to wrap the bodies and put them in the barn or other buildings, and wait until spring thawing to bury the body.. I can't imagine knowing my loved one was dead, frozen, etc. In the barn..... People then were a much, much sturdier stock; not so maudlin as we are now. I believe it was the honorable thing for men to do, being pall bearers.. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- As industrialization flourished, American cities grew more crowded, and living spaces became smaller. When death occurred, many families did not have the physical space for a wake in the home. D. C. Sloane (1991) cites three other reasons for the expanding roles of undertakers in the late nineteenth century: (1) the rise in popularity of embalming; (2) a longer distance from the home to the cemetery necessitated someone to organize the procession; and (3) families were concerned about ensuring that all the formalities were followed. The National Funeral Directors Association was established in 1882. The group decided to use the term funeral directors, rather than undertakers, in an effort to portray a more professional image. During the twentieth century, the role of the funeral director continued to expand into areas previously held by the family and the clergy. -------Original Message------- From: Stacy Smith Date: 12/08/09 06:28:04 To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [IADECATU] DEATH OF MIDA ALMA TEATERS Reading this, I wonder... I never thought about it before, but why is it tradition for pall bearers to Be guys? Or is it just traditon in our family? Anyone have any thoughts?
This is off the female pall bearers theme but the names of the female pall bearers struck a chord with me - I have a copy of a photo showing Goldie Smith, Theda Hinds, my Grandmother Agnes Harp and another lady I think the name is Blanche Marini sp? The handwriting is difficult to say the least but the four young ladies are wearing really great hats it is a studio photo. We were never sure where the photo was taken or the exact time frame. But this make it appear to have been in Leon I think before Grandmothers marriage in March 1912. Does anyone have info on any of these ladies? Jo Achee -- Original Message ----- From: "Stacy Smith" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, December 07, 2009 9:37 AM Subject: Re: [IADECATU] DEATH OF MIDA ALMA TEATERS > Reading this, I wonder... > I never thought about it before, but why is it tradition for pall bearers > to > be guys? Or is it just traditon in our family? > Anyone have any thoughts? > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Nancee Seifert" <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Sunday, December 06, 2009 2:47 PM > Subject: [IADECATU] DEATH OF MIDA ALMA TEATERS > > >> Decatur County Journal >> Leon, Iowa >> Thursday, October 5, 1911 >> >> MIDA ALMA TEATERS, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. S.M. TEATERS, was born >> January >> 11, 1889 in Wayne County, Iowa, and died in Leon, Iowa, September 27, >> 1911, >> at the age of 22 years, 8 months and 16 days. >> >> The deceased had not been strong during her life and on Wednesday morning >> suddenly passed away. The funeral was held from the Methodist Church >> Thursday at 2:30, conducted by the Pastor E.M. Hoff. The body was laid >> to >> rest in the Leon Cemetery. The pall bearers were six young ladies, >> Misses >> Goldie Smith, Nellie Gloaker, Theda Hinds, Bertha DeWece, Mabel Smith, >> Mrs. >> Roy Gore. >> >> The family have the sympathy of many friends in this hour of sorrow. >> -------------------------------------------------------- >> Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert >> December 6, 2009 >> [email protected] >> >> This says so little about her........ >> >> www.iagenweb.org/decatur >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the >> quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > www.iagenweb.org/decatur > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.426 / Virus Database: 270.14.98/2552 - Release Date: 12/08/09 07:34:00