Submitted by: Dan Rich

Harriet Rose Bickel

Dec. 12, 1912 – April 1, 1927

South Bend Tribune 4/1/1927

Harriet Rose Bickel

Spinal meningitis this morning claimed the life of Harriet Rose Bickel, age 14, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Bickel, 316 West Third Street, and popular High school freshman, following an illness of one week.  The girl died at 6:30 o’clock in St. Joseph’s Hospital, where she was taken Thursday morning.

Miss Bickel’s illness began with a headache March 28, following a slight accident at the High school during a gymnasium class.  The class was playing a game know as “three deep” when Miss Bickel accidentally fell.  Arriving home, she complained of a headache and her condition grew gradually worse.  However, Dr. J. E. McMeel, of South Bend, the attending physician, announced this morning that the spinal meningitis could not possibly have been caused from the fall, since it is a germ disease and as such can not result from a fall.  It is considered coincidental that the accident and the disease occurred in sequence.  Miss Bickel was conscious until a few minutes before her death and did not realize the seriousness of her illness.

In addition to her parents she is survived by three brothers, W. Jay, Bernard and Louis; four sisters, Margaret, Mary, Louise and Alice Bickel, all of Mishawaka, and her grandmother, Mrs. Mary Ann Bickel, also of Mishawaka.

Prior to attending High school, where her death is mourned by both students and faculty, Miss Bickel was a student at St. Joseph’s parochial school, from which she graduated from the eighth grade in June, 1926.  She entered High school last fall.

Funeral services will be held Monday morning at 9 o’clock from St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church with Rev. John C. Keller, pastor, officiating.  Burial will be in St. Joseph’s cemetery.

South Bend Tribune 4/4/1927

Harriet Rose Bickel

Funeral services for Harriet Rose Bickel, 316 West Third street, were held a 9 o’clock this morning from St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic church, with Rev. John C. Keller officiating.  Burial took place in St. Joseph’s cemetery.