DORRELL, Rosa May

Date of birth:  9 May 1867 Indiana
Date of death: 14 May 1892 Johnson County Indiana

The Franklin Democrat, Friday, May 20, 1892, page 6

OBITUARY

Rosa May, the only daughter of Paschal and Martha Dorrell, died of consumption, at the home of her father two miles north of Stones Crossing, this county, on Sunday morning, May 14th 1892. Funeral services by Rev. L. E. Sellers of Tipton, Indiana, were held at the residence Tuesday at 10 a.m. after which the body was laid to rest in the beautiful cemetery in Greenwood.

The deceased was born May 9th, 1867, on the farm where her parents now live, consequently she was 25 years and nine days old at the time of her death.

Rosa obtained a good common school education and had an excellent musical education, being a splendid per­former on the piano.

Her life was exemplary in every respect, being a zealous worker in the Sunday school and a regular attendant at church, though she had never united with any religious body. Her whole life was fraught with a desire to do good to others. Where she was known her vir­tues need no attestation from me. Her charity and unselfishness were dis­tinguishing characteristics of her life among her neighbors and friends. They cannot be disguised or hidden from sight, but like the stars in a cloudless night they will continue to shine in the hearts of those who knew her only to love her. If we would praise or eulogize her, if we would make for her robes of pearl, we could do no better than to recount her daily walk. It is hard at a time like this to say words that will comfort the bereaved parents and faith­ful lover. However, it is a con­solation to them to know that everything was done for her in life that careful nursing and medical skill could accomplish. It is comforting too, to note with what sweet patience, she bore all of her af­fliction, resigning herself to the will of the Father. No word of complaint ever escaped her lips. No regrets can be expressed, but that a young life has gone out of the home and all is desolate. Everything in her luxurious home bears the testimony of her care and the impress of her touch.

Little did she dream when less than a year ago, when she plighted her troth to him she loved, that the day (her birth­day) set for the marriage ceremony, would usher her into the presence of the Unseen.

The loves and friendships of in­dividuals partaking of the frail character of human life may be shortly summed up: A little loving and a good deal of sorrowing; some bright hopes and many bitter disappointments; some gorgeous Thursdays, when the skies are bright and the heavens blue, when Providence bending over us in blessing, gladden the heart almost to madness; many dismal Fridays when the smoke of torment beclouds the mind and undying sorrows gnaw upon the heart; some high ambitions and many Water­loo defeats, until the heart becomes like a charnel-house, filled with dead af­fections, embalmed in holy but sor­rowful memories; and then the cord is loosened, the golden bowl is broken, the individual life—a cloud, a vapor—passeth away. —C. F. P.

Link to Rosa May Dorrell’s grave

Submitted by Mark McCrady and Cathea Curry