J. Polin Edelen, 1850-1926.  Nannie Edelen, 1850-1909.  St. Rose Catholic Cemetery, Washington County, Kentucky.

The News-Leader, Springfield, Washington County, Kentucky

Thursday, September 23, 1909

Estimable Woman

Was Mrs. J. Polin Edelen Who Died Last Week

After fighting long and heroically against a most painful disease, Mrs. Nannie Edelen died Wednesday, September 15, 909.  About one year ago her health began to fail, at that time she suffered a severe attack of sickness from which it was thought she had nearly recovered, but in the spring of this year, the hopes that had been raised by her apparent recovery were to be displaced by disappointment, for the old trouble began to manifest itself in an aggravated form.  In the hope of bettering her health an operation was advised and performed.  It then developed that her case was hopeless, as she was found to be suffering from cancer of the liver.  After a few weeks at St. Joseph’s Infirmary in Louisville, she was removed to her home, where she remained until her death.

Mrs. Edelen was born in Washington County, March 19, 1850, and during the whole of her life remained a resident of her native county.  She was a daughter of the late John H. McIntire who for many years served the people of this county in the official position of County Judge, and is favorably remembered as a man of absolute fairness and the strongest integrity.  On September 20, 1870, she was married to J. Polin Edelen, to which union twelve children were born, eight of whom with her husband survive, namely, Walter, Ray, George, Joseph and Thomas Edelen, Mrs. W. T. Leachman and Misses Pearl and Stella Edelen, all of whom are residents of this county.

Mrs. Edelen was an exemplary Christian woman, possessing all those virtues which go to make a noble character.  She was never happier than when doing something to alleviate the pain and suffering of those in sickness or distress and whatever acts of charity she performed was done for charity’s sake for she never sought to place them in the public glare in order to gain the applause of the world, for she was satisfied when she knew in her own heart that she had done the right as she saw it, and when once her path of duty was clear to her mind she was absolutely fearless in the discharge of that duty.

Funeral services were conducted Friday at St. Rose where a High Requeim Mass was sung by Rev. Father Kennedy, after which the remains were laid to rest in St. Rose Cemetery.  The large crowd which was present and the many beautiful floral designs was evidence of the high esteem in which she was held.  So consistent was her life in its every phase that were we to write it in one word, that word would be ‘Sincerity.’