A Final Peace: The Passing of Mrs. Smith
A poignant account of the final days and passing of a local woman, Mrs. Smith, who died surrounded by her family.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
At her home on Second Street, Mrs. Smith, beloved wife of Captain Smith, passed into that slumber which knows no waking. For a number of years, she had been a sufferer from a disease that kept her from her accustomed duties. She had been relieved of her suffering by her only daughter, Mrs. P. Kerner, who was by her mother's bedside night and day to make her feel as comfortable as possible. Mrs. Smith realized that she must die from the day she was taken sick and with the greatest thoughtfulness, she ordered all her worldly affairs. Death had no terrors for her; it seemed to come like a happy relief, and she passed away without a murmur. The funeral services will be held at her late residence in the Arlington Hotel tomorrow at 2 o'clock, Rev. J. K. Wilson officiating.
“Death had no terrors for her; it seemed to come like a happy relief, and she passed away without a murmur.”
This obituary offers a rare glimpse into domestic life and end-of-life care in 1880s Seattle, reflecting the era's emphasis on family duty and the role of women in managing the home during illness.
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