The Obituary of Mrs. Sarah Sanders Reed

Here is a transcription obituary for my 2nd great grandmother.   IT is lengthy and flowery.  I have know idea what the "omhmhdou yefislcra wd fr fr rhhh" near the end is abt,but it was in the original article.

Feb. 19-Feb 21 1919

Daily Hampshire Gazette

MRS. SARAH SANDERS REED

At the age of 95 years, ten months and ten days, Mrs. Sarah Reed departed this life on Wednesday.  To quote an old friend of hers, "She did not have far to go; it was only stepping into the next room." She is survived by a daughter, Mrs. J. D. Wright, a son, A D. Sanders of Evenston, Ill., five grandchildren, and two great grandchildren.

It is almost 56 years that Mrs. Reed has been a resident of Northampton and, for most of this period, on West Street.  Some there still remember her and her sister, Mrs. Sanderson, always in their church pew at the hour of worship, whatever the weather conditions, until invalidism overtook, first one, and then the other.  Wherever these sisters were there came friends from a distance, the neighborhood dropped in, young and old were drawn by the sociability, intelligence, high principle, and welcoming hospitality that overflowed parlor, porch, and even the invalid's chair.

Mrs. Reed outlived her husband and all her father's family, but whatever sorrows swept over her life, her face wore an unaltered look of peace..  She was naturally endowed with a sweet disposition and an unusually equable temperament.  Those who were fretted or neglected loved to sun themselves in her uniform cheerfulness.  And more; there was a certain rarity in her character.  She seemed not to know the vocabulary of complaint, of lamentation, foreboding or fault-finding.  She had a long memory for the absent, the ill, for birthdays, family anniversaries, for the afflicted homes.  Her war experience was up to date.  For three years the Red Cross officers have been receiving scores of articles knit by her hands.  She encouraged her grandson, Sgt. David Wright, to go overseas, and was greatly elated when a letter from a soldier who by marriage became her grandson, announced his release from a  German prison. 

Benevolence was one of the lines of longitude on Mrs. Reed's chart of life.  She gave liberally, appreciation, sympathy, affection, gratitude, and of her means dispensed to the limit, for the needs of the world.  Her supreme desire was for the Church of Christ and his wide kingdom.  Not all the active members of  Edwards church have been so constantly watching, so eagerly inquiring, so earnestly praying, as this shut-in member, for the coming of the new pastor.   Last summer, and on into the cold autumn days, Mrs. Reed enjoyed long automobile rides with her devoted son and, to the end, retained her mental faculties, her love of life, flowers. ??? friends; and the secret of the Lord was with her. 

Ella C. Parson