Obituary and Funeral Articles: Dr. Helen Kidd McIlvaine


Newspaper Clipping #1:

DR. M'ILVAINE DEAD AT DENVER
FORMER WABASH LADY EXPIRES OF PNEUMONIA FOLLOWING OPERATION.
REMAINS CREMATED THERE

And Ashes Will Be Brought Back to Indiana for Interment - End Totally
Unexpected a Shock to Friends.

A telegram received early this morning from T. O. McIlvaine and Dr. Rose Kidd
Beere, at Denver, Col., brings the sad intelligence of the death of Dr. Helen
K. McIlvaine, which took place at a hospital in Denver last night following a
surgical operation.

The news came as a distinct shock to the friends of Mrs. McIlvaine who had not
been apprised of the seriousness of her condition. The telegram stated briefly
that Mrs. McIIvaine's death was due to pneumionia which supervened after the
operation performed on Tuesday, only 10 hours elapsing from the time pneumonia
manifested itself until the end came.

Mr. and Mrs. McIlvaine left Huntington about three weeks ago for Denver, one
of the purposes of the trip west being the operation referred to, Mrs.
McIlvaine desiring to enter a hospital where she could have the attention of
her sister, Dr. Rose Kidd Beere. The operation was not regarded as a
particularly dangerous one, and Mrs. McIlvaine when she started west fully
expected to be back in Huntington in a month,  entirely recovered.

The body will be cremated, in accordance with Mrs. McIlvaine's expressed wish,
at Denver, tomorrow and the ashes brought back to Indiana for burial.

Mrs. Helen Kidd McIlvaine was the youngest daughter of Major and Mrs. M. H.
Kidd, and was born in Larned, Kan., in 1872. She received her education at the
schools in this city and later graduated with high honors from the Chicago
Medical college, and began the practice of medicine at Huntington. She was
married at that place in 1896 to Thomas O. McIlvaine, who survives, one son,
Meredith, being born to them.

Later Dr. McIlvaine established the Huntington hospital which she conducted
with signal success, though at times her health threatened to give way under
the responsibility.

The domestic life of Dr. McIlvaine was ideal. She was thoroughly devoted to
her husband, her son and her home and there was not a happier family in the
community than theirs. A womanly woman, kindly, yet of strong character, Mrs.
McIlvaine won and retained hosts of loyal friends, holding them as by hooks of
steel by the unfaltering loyalty she gave in return and she will be greatly
missed by a large circle here and at Huntington

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Newspaper Clipping #2:

DR. M'ILVAINE'S FUNERAL

Short Services at Huntington Conducted Over Well-Known Physician by Rev.
Little.

The ashes of Dr. Helen Kidd McIlvaine who died in Denver, Col., last Friday,
reached Huntington, at three o'clock Monday afternoon and were taken to the
McIlvaine home.

The ashes accompanied by T. O. McIlvaine, Meredith McIlvaine, the son, Dr.
Ross Kidd Beere, of Denver, and Mrs. T. A. Noftzger, of Wichita, Kansas,
sisters, were met at the station by relatIves and friends, the Huntington
physicians being present in a body. The funeral took place this afternoon at
three o'clock, Rev. Dr. Charles Little of this city, conducting brief services
at the home following which friends and the Huntington physicians came to
Wabash on a special interurban car, the copper casket containing the ashes
being buried adjacent to Mrs. McIlvaine's mother's grave in Falls cemetery.
Dr. Little also conducted the short service at the cemetery.
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Source for both clippings: Wabash Plain Dealer (Newspaper), Wabash, Indiana.
June 14 & abt 17, 1913, respectively. 

Note: From other sources, it is known that Helen Kidd McIlvaine died on June
13, 1913. These two clippings were handed down through the family, and are not
marked with dates or the name of the newspaper. Wabash, Indiana as the
newspaper's location can be deduced from statements contained in each
clipping. For example, the first clipping states that Helen Kidd McIlvaine
"received her education from schools in this city . . ." and from other
sources, it is known that Helen Kidd graduated from Wabash High School in
1889. However, the back side of the first clipping, just happens to have the
newspaper publishing date (June 14, 1913) and location (Wabash, Indiana), but
not the name of the newspaper. The link to the Wabash Plain Dealer came from
this statement in the newspaper publication notice: "Chas. S. Haas, President
and Manager." In 1913, Charles Haas did indeed hold said position with the
Wabash Plain Dealer. Incidently, Charles Haas and Helen Kidd McIlvaine were
first cousins.

Submitted March 2009 by David R. Guinnup, first cousin twice removed of Helen
Kidd (03/26/2009).