MARIE ORNES

(1826 • 1923)

MOTHER OF JOHN ORNES DIES IN WESTERN HOME

Body to Be Brought Here for Burial—Was 97 Yrs. Old

Messages received by her son John in this city last night, announced the death of his mother, Mrs. Maria Ornes, at Mount Vernon, Wash., death occurring at 6 o'clock last evening, the end coming peacefully and without suffering and bringing to a close a lifetime of a span of years seldom equaled. Had Mrs. Ornes lived three more years she would have rounded out a full century. She was born May 22, 1826.

Decedent came to this country from Norway with her husband and five children in 1870, coming direct to Manitowoc and remaining here until the death of her husband, Mads Ornes, whose death occurred in 1907. She then took up her home at Mount Vernon, Washington, with her son, Fred, where she resided continuously up to the time of her death.

Buried in This City.

The body will be brought to Manitowoc for burial and will be accompanied by her son, Fred, and daughter, Maria, and the funeral will take place at the First Norwegian church next Wednesday, the Rev. Ristad officiating.

Coincident with receipt of the telegram announcing her death, came a letter to her son John, in which she reviewed the happy occasion of his visit only a few weeks ago and which was written last week. At the time Mr. Ornes visited her at Mount Vernon she was in her usual good health, mentality and spirits, and to show how well she retained her faculties and her interest in world affairs the letter dealt largely with the political situation in Europe. She demonstrated besides this an absorbing interest in music even up to the very last days of her life. In an accompanying photo on this page she will be seen seated at the piano and playing, an accomplishment which at her time of life was a phenomenon. The photo was taken in her own home at the age of 94.

The surviving family consists of her two sons, John, Manager for the O. Torrison Co. of this city; Fred of Mount Vernon, Wash., with whom she made her home; Katrina, Mount Vernon; and Mrs. C. W. Pugh, Minneapolis. One child, also named Fred, died in early infancy shortly after arrival of the family in America and another son; Thorval, who died in California.

Older residents of the city will remember Mrs. Ornes as a kindly neighborly woman of unusual attainments and fine attributes of character. She was particularly fond of her family and her family was proud of her, as well they might be. Each year, whenever it was possible for the children to congregate at the Mount Vernon home, an annual homecoming was enjoyed, and it is particularly gratifying at this time to her son John in this city that he only so recently made his western trip, coincident with one of these occasions, remembrance of a visit he will always cherish.

Manitowoc Herald News, Wis., December 14, 1923 P. 1

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