Report
from the Local Newspaper of the Funeral of Janet Stafford
REMARKABLE SCENES AT A GEE CROSS
FUNERAL
A Hyde young lady’s death in
America.
There
were some remarkable scenes in Hyde Chapel and the adjoining churchyard on
Saturday afternoon last, on the occasion of the funeral of Miss Janet Stafford,
daughter of Mr. Able Stafford, of the Gerrards, Gee Cross. It will be remembered that the young lady
mentioned died in America a short time ago.
The body was embalmed, and placed in a hermetically-sealed coffin, and
brought several hundreds of miles on the railway, and then across the mighty
Atlantic to be buried in Miss Stafford’s native village, this being done, we
understand, in accordance with the express wish of the deceased young lady. The body arrived, along with Miss Stafford’s
mother, on Wednesday last week, and the interment was fixed for Saturday. The ceremony was one of the most impressive
and touching that has been witnessed in Gee Cross for a long time. Almost all the elder scholars and members of
the Primitive Methodist Chapel and Sunday School, where the late Miss Stafford
was an earnest worker and member of the choir, followed the body of their
former companion to its last resting-place, and the chapel yard and inside the
edifice was crowded with numbers of sympathising friends. As the remains were laid to rest there was
scarcely an eye that was not moist with tears at the sad tragedy of death
coming to one so young so many thousands of miles away from home in the midst
of – excepting her mother and a few relatives, - strangers. It will be remembered that the deceased young
lady left Gee Cross on October 23rd 1902, in company with her
cousins – who were at that time over on a visit, - from Salt Lake City,
USA. Miss Stafford had been ailing for a
considerable length of time, and it was thought that the change of climate,
together with the sea voyage, might prove beneficial to her health. After having been there a short time,
however, she gradually grew worse, and as her condition assumed a serious
character her mother left England for America on June 30th and Mrs
Stafford remained with her daughter up to the last, death taking place on
August 17th, despite the attention of several medical men. The deceased young lady, who was in her 23rd
year, was greatly respected and esteemed in Gee Cross and the immediate
vicinity. She was a most active worker
at the Gee Cross Primitive Methodist Sunday School and was also a member of the
chapel choir, and from which place she will be greatly missed. Along the route on Saturday, on the occasion
of the funeral from the house to the chapel, the blinds were drawn at every
house. The coffin, which was of polished
oak, was of a casket shape, with heavy silver mounts, and bore the inscription:
“Janet Stafford, died August 17th 1903, in her 23rd
year.” It was carried from the house to
the chapel by two of her cousins, Messrs J Rowbotham and Wm. Stafford, and
Messrs. Fred Harrison, Wilfred Harrison, Frank Winterbottom and John Wilson,
young men from the Sunday School.
Preceding the coffin walked six more of the deceased young lady’s
cousins, Messrs Hy Stafford (Hyde), Arthur and Walter Stafford (Denton) Ernest
and Walter Williamson (Woodley), and W.S. Rowbottom (Hyde). These six acted as carriers from the chapel
to the grave, and they were also preceded by the members of the young lady’s
class from the school, the members of the chapel choir, members of the
congregation and friends and also several of her late workmates. Following the coffin came the chief mourners,
as under: Mr and Mrs Stafford (father
and mother) and the other members of the family. Then followed a large number of relatives of
the deceased. The officiating minister
was the Rev. W.D. Judson, circuit minister, who conducted the service both at
home and in the chapel in a most impressive manner, and at the graveside the
hymn “Lead Kindly Light” was also sung.
The
following is a complete list of the floral tokens received.
Harp,
from her Father and Mother.
Harp,
“To our dear Sister” from her sorrowing Brothers and Sisters.
Harp, “With Deepest Sympathy”
from Uncle, Aunt and Cousins (Mr and Mrs E Rowbottom and family).
Wreath,
“In loving memory” from Uncle Sam and Aunt Kate and Cousin May and Dick.
Anchor,
“In loving remembrance of dear Janet”, from her Cousins, Salt Lake City.
Cross,
“With sincere regret and loving sympathy” from her Cousins, Salt Lake City.
Wreath,
“With heartfelt sympathy” from her workmates.
Harp,
“In loving memory” from the members of the Choir.
Wreath, “With deep sympathy” from
the Officials, Teachers and Scholars of the Gee Cross Primitive Methodist
Sunday School.
Harp,
“In loving memory” from the Young Ladies’ Class.
Wreath,
“With deepest sympathy” from Mr and Mrs Brierley and family.
Wreath, “In deepest sympathy”
from Mr and Mrs S Wilde and Family, Mottram Old Road, Gee Cross.
Wreath,
“With deepest sympathy” from Mr and Mrs Bennett and family.
Wreath,
“With deepest sympathy” from Mr and Mrs Frost and Mrs Mellor, Clough Fold.
Wreath,
“With deepest sympathy” from Miss M. A. Aldcroft.
Wreath,
“From Sympathising Friends” from Mr and Mrs Schofield, Rusholme.
Casket,
“With love for Janet” from Miss Liggings.
Harp,
from Mr Wm. Edwards and family.
Anchor,
Mr and Mrs Jas. Wilson and family.
The
following sent bouquets:
“A
token of love to Janet” from Lizzie Garside.
“A
token of deep sympathy” from Mrs Redfern and Family.
“With
deepest sympathy” from Miss Aileen Hague.
“A
tribute of sincere sympathy” from Mr and Mrs George Woolley.
Mrs
J Stafford (Denton Aunty).
Mr
and Mrs R Eyre.
Mrs
Harding.
Miss
Essie Taylor.
Miss
E A Wilson.
Miss
Florence Lees and Mrs Ingham (Haughton Green).
There
was also an artificial wreath with globe and stand, from her brothers and
sisters.
The
remains were embalmed by Mr Joseph W. Taylor, Undertaker of Salt Lake City,
USA, who also supplied the coffin, together with the case in which it was
enclosed.
September
12th 1903.
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