Because of those obituaries and funeral cards

 During the 2020 pandemic, it has actually been a blessing to have some time on my hands to get some much needed backlog work done. One of those items has been nagging me in the back of my mind for several years.

A box filled with obituaries and funeral cards given to me by my Aunt Betty Jones Stevens. Aunt Betty was married to my mom's youngest brother Richard.

Aunt Betty Jones Stevens b1936 d2017

Aunt Betty knew that all of us girls were interested in that "genealogy stuff", and that the majority of our family members from the mid-1800s until now lived in parts of eastern Kentucky. 

Richard Stevens b1931 d2015

Her husband, my Uncle Dick knew everybody in the county, and if he didn't know them, he knew their brother. His knowledge reached to the surrounding counties, too. In his later years, he went to every funeral he could to console the grieving and pick up a funeral card for us. He also took a fork with him and kept it in his pocket, just in case there was an invitation for the funeral meal. There usually was.

The box of obituaries and funeral cards that Aunt Betty collected for us during the years.

These funeral cards have sat on a shelf in my office for several years - probably pre-2016. The few I saw on top I knew I already had in my possession, for I had likely attended the funeral or had inherited them from my parents.

But, she collected them all, recalling some of the surnames she had heard us mention through the years.

About a month ago I began to photograph and/or scan these items into a folder of "Misc. Families" on my computer. It was then that I thought that I could and should do something more with them.

So, enter FamilySearch.org.

One by one I began to look them up. First, I checked my own database. Second, I began to look on FamilySearch. Under the Memories section, I uploaded the scans to Documents.

That's all that I did. I didn't enter information. I didn't tag anyone. 

I simply uploaded the scans for their family to find someday.

Here is an example of one of them. I am not related to this man - but, someone is.

I absolutely love the information that has been included on this tiny funeral card, and have rethought what may be included on the ones Kerry and I will design for our own funerals. Just look at all of that information on the centerfold!

I also uploaded obituaries and funeral cards I had collected from family, personal friends, church friends, and friends through Boy Scouts. Again, I add no information other than the scan.

So, as of this morning I have added nearly 300 obituaries, and still have half a box that I need to work on. I am keeping the ones who are family members and throwing the rest away.

Out of all of those people, there have only been two I haven't been able to find on FamilySearch. 

So, rather than sit around and wring my hands over a virus I can't do anything about, I have put my time to good use. And perhaps there will be someone, someday who will be glad that I uploaded those scans.

A Fascinating Obituary

The Richland County Chapter of The Ohio Genealogical Society held its Christmas potluck luncheon last Saturday.  Sunda Peters, the President of OGS read this fascinating obituary to us:

Susie Swartzentruber, 92

Susie Swartzentruber, 92, 9526 Salt Creek Road, Fredericksburg, died Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2013, at her home.

She was born in Orrville on Feb. 4, 1921, to the late Samuel and Susanna (Miller) Yoder and married Raymond L. Swartzentruber on Dec. 16, 1941.  He died April 27, 2000.

She was a member of the Old Order Amish Church.

Surviving are children, Elle (Levi) Troyer of Bellville, Levi (Iva) Swartzenbruber of Apple Creek, Paul (Naomi) Swartzentruber of Navarre, Clara (Albert) Weaver of Danville, Sara (Wayne) Miller of Millersburg, Emma (Dan) Troyer and Albert (Katie) Swartzentruber, both of Apple Creek, Atlee (Ruth) Swartzentruber of Fredericksburg, Iva Swartzentruber and Ray (Gertrude) Swartzentruber, both of the home, David (Sara) Swartzentruber, Susan (Alvin Jr.) Hershberger and Aden (Susie) Swartzentruber, all of Fredericksburg; 88 grandchildren; 10 step-grandchildren; 292 great-grandchildren; 53 step-great- grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; and two step-great-great-grandchildren.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by children; Annie, Fannie, LizzieAnn and Reuben; three grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; four step-great-grandchildren; brothers Roman, David and Christian Yoder; and sisters LizzieAnn Mast, Sara Mast and Emma Schlabach.

Funeral services were Friday, Nov 22 at the residence, with Bishop Nelson D Yoder officiating.  Burial was in the Hershberger Cemetery, Salt Creek Township, Wayne County.

Spidell Funeral Home in Mount Eaton handled arrangements.

Holmes Co. Hub Shopper, Nov. 28 - Dec. 4, 2013; Vol. 12, No. 33, p. 36.

Do the math.  I am worn out just reading this.

Grieving again!

I am just mortified.

Here I am, a "Accredited Genealogist", looking at my own mother's obituary and not believing my eyes.

My mother passed away 27 years ago.  I was a young mother with four children under five, three of which were in diapers and two were still on formula.  Her death hit me hard.

And now, it's hitting me hard again.

Thanks to some wonderful new features in RootsMagic 5, I am transcribing source information into my ancestors' records.  Memories come flooding back to me as I type away, remember their lives, their smiles, their cooking, and their funerals.

Then, I get to my own mother's obituary.  I really don't know who gave the information to the newspaper.  It may have been the funeral home, my father, one of my sisters, maybe even me!  I really don't believe it was me, though.  Even with my hands full, I think I would have done better than what was actually published.

Her maiden name is not even listed.

It states that she was a member of the Mormon Word of Wisdom.  What is that?  She was a Mormon, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  We practice the Word of wisdom (no coffee, tea, alcohol or tobacco).

Her niece's name is listed as Juanita.  Her actual name is Elwanda.

My sister's married name is misspelled.

My husband's name is misspelled.

MY name is misspelled.

Good grief!

There's nothing I can do about it now.  I would love to post it on USGenWeb, but I'm too embarrassed.  I would love to post it on FindAGrave, but I'm too embarrassed.  I would have to do a lot of correcting and state the reasons why.

Which brings me to our own research, and why we just cannot rely upon one source of evidence.  It's all part of piecing together the jigsaw puzzle of the lives of our ancestors.  When something like this happens so close to home - my own mother - it makes me wonder about the information given on other documents in my possession. 

I remember reading the obituary when it was first published.  I scanned over it.  I was grieving.  I couldn't even think straight, for my mother had just died. 

My feelings would be no different than any other grieving ancestor trying to give the correct information on a death certificate or for an obituary. 

Sorry, mom...