Catherine Lawrence ¹

  Research Notes:

Sister of Mary Louisa Lawrence, who married Sylvester Lasby.

  Death Notes:

From http://www.angelfire.com/in3/vanbrink/images/Catherine_Lasby_obit.txt

Obituary of my maternal great-great-grandmother,
Catherin Lawrence-Lasby.

Chester, Nebraska 1904

OVER THE RIVER
Through the Valley of the Shadow of Death
Unto the Blessed Assurance of a Never-Ending Eternity With Christ
in Heaven

"One by one the stately ships go on,
to their haven under the hill,
But oh, for the touch of a vanished hand,
and the sound of a voice that is still."


At exactly 4 o'clock, of the afternoon of Thursday, November 24, 1904,
the soul of Mrs. Catharine Lasby winged its flight out into the "Great
Beyond" to stand before its Maker and its King, to render up an
account of the deeds done here in the body, and to receive a reward of
righteous living to an inheritance that is "Incorruptible, undefiled
and which fadeth not away. The poor scarred and weakened body,
blackened and bruised and scarred by the terrible fire which caused it
to render up its life, now lies sleeping the long, last and most
beautiful sleep in Chester's "City of the Dead." Around her, as the
life went out, were gathered all her living children, save one, and
the watchers, who had so faithfully and carefully watched over her
since the day of the accident.

This is the saddest occasion that the Chester people have ever
been called upon to witness. A week ago she was the very picture of
perfect health, Friday, of last week, by an inadvertent step, she
caught on fire, and in less that the week, after enduring all the
intense suffering that mortal flesh could possibly bear, her life went
out, leaving a home forsaken, the hearts of the children crushed, and
the city prostrated.

Mrs. Lasby has lived in Chester since the year 1894, coming
here with her children from Wellington county, Ontario. She was one
of those good, motherly souls, whom but to know was to love; a
faithful nurse to the sick and the afflicted; a devoted mother, and a
devout Christian, being affiliated with the Methodist church. She was
a member of the Star of Hope Lodge No. 117 Degree of Rebekah, of this
city, and occupied one of the most prominent positions in the degree
staff.

What more can be said? She falls asleep, the community mourns.
"REQUIESCAT ET PACE."
Catherine Lawrence was born in Waterloo country, Ontario, Canada,
November 28, 1844, and was married to Frederick Lasby April 22, 1862,
when they moved to Wellington county, settling upon a homestead where
Mr. Lasby died upon the anniversary of their wedding day in 1879. She
continued to live upon the home place, until coming to Chester in the
year 1894. She was the mother of twelve children, eight of whom, five
boys and three girls are still living. They are: G. E., J. M., C.
S., M..L.(Martin Lewis). and Maggie Lasby of Chester, Nebraska.
F.J.D. Lasby, of Hartney, Manitoba. Mrs. Addie Underhill, of
Underhill, Manitoba, and Mrs Kate Bowyer, of Virden, Manitoba.

Had the deceased lived until the 28th of this month she would
have reached her sixtieth birthday.

The funeral services were held on Friday afternoon. A short
scripture reading and prayer was rendered at the home at 2:00 o'clock,
by Rev. E.M. Furman, after which the funeral cortege passed to the
Methodist church, the remains being in charge of A.D. McGlothlen, Fred
Crump, Hiram Woodford, Price Dillon, James Yost and James Wilson, as
pall bearers, and under escort of a cordon of nearly one-hundred
Rebekahs from Chester, Hubell and Superior.

AT THE CHURCH. The services at the church were the most
impressive of any ever held in that house, her favourite songs, the
passages and scriptures of , the text, the sermon and all, bore out
her life and commended her Eternal God as the world's every-lasting
refuge, and as the pastor eulogized her life before the people, it
must have been a hardened heart that could not have been moved unto
tears and supplication. The church was crowded to the very door, and
all gave the most earnest heed throughout.

The choir sang \endash "Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross," after which D.
G. Wagner, pastor of the Christian church, read the scripture lesson,
Fifth chapter of Second Corinthians, first ten verses; followed by an
eloquent prayer by the Rev. U.G. Brown of Superior. The choir then
sang \endash "When the Cares of Life are Ended," and Rev. E.M. Furman
presented the sermon \endash "And I heard a voice from Heaven saying unto
me. Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from
henceforth; Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their
labours; and their works do follow them."

His word picture of the life of the departed was pathetic,
touching, inspiring. Her message to the living, delivered through him
was elevating, sublime, Holy. Hers was a perfect life, a befitting
pattern to follow for those who are left behind unto the third and
fourth generation.

The choir then sang \endash "Jesus is Mine". Rev. Brown made a few
remarks, the singing of \endash "I Shall Know Him." The viewing of the
remains, and the body was born to its last resting place to return
unto the dust from which it arose. "AND THE END OF THAT MAN IS
PEACE."

The children of Mrs., Catharine Lasby requests us to say that
they are very thankful to all who so kindly assisted in the care and
welfare of their mother during the last days of life, and especially
would they thank those ladies who stayed by and ministered to their
every want from the first unto the last. In such times as these it is
hard for one to freely express their heart's desire, but from out the
deepest recesses of their hearts they wish to say, "We thank you."

Mrs. Maria Loveland was up from Byron to attend the funeral of
Catharine Lasby.
-We held this issue of The Herald in order that we might
publish the obituary notice of Mrs. Catharine Lasby.
Marsh Lasby returned from the north Tuesday, being called
sooner than he expected by the sad accident which recently befell his
mother, Mrs. Catherine Lasby.
Annie Lasby is here from Lincoln, having been called by the
very severe sickness of her grandmother, Mrs. Catharine Lasby. Her
mother Mary Knight, could not come on account of sickness.
Mrs. Addie Underhill, of Underhill, Manitoba, and Mrs. Kate
Bowyer, of Virden, Manitoba, daughters of Mrs. Catharine Lasby,
arrived Wednesday. Her son, Fred, of Hartney, Manitoba, was
unable to leave.

The following ladies were present at the funeral services of
Mrs. Catharine Lasby: Mesdames Denton, Casad. Kelso, Hennen,
Greider, Townsend, Hallenbeck, Scott, Lockwood, Wilcox Mabel Denton
from Hubbell; Mesdames Duwe, Bosserman and Kesterson from Superior.
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Catherine married Frederick Lasby, son of Joseph Lasby and Matilda Crowder, on 22 Apr 1862. (Frederick Lasby was born on 17 May 1840 in Ponsonby, Nichol Twp, Wellington, Upper Canada (Ontario), Canada and died on 23 Apr 1879 in Inverhaugh, Pilkington Twp, Wellington, Ontario, Canada.)