The
entire community was saddened to learn of the death of Mrs. Emma Brook
Donly, widow of Col. Hal. B. Donly, who passed away on Wednesday of last
week, December 31st, after a brief illness, in her 62nd year. Her death
came as a shock to her many friends, as she had been in apparent good
health and was down town just before Christmas.
Mrs. Donly was
the younger daughter of the late Joseph Brook, prominent Simcoe citizen
of an earlier period and founder of the Brook Woolen Company. As the
wife of H. B. Donly, editor of the Reformer for over forty years, she
took a keen interest in community welfare and many organizations in
Simcoe received her sympathetic interest and assistance. Her genial,
loving and generous character earned for her the admiration of a host of
friends, by all of whom she will be sincerely missed.
She leaves two
sons, James and Paul, both of Simcoe, and one daughter, Mrs. Philip
Thayer, who lives in Singapore Straits Settlements. She is survived by
one brother, Harry J. Brook of Simcoe, and one sister, Mrs. A. W.
Donly,
now of California. Another brother, Fred T. Brook, predeceased her
several years ago.
In attendance at
the funeral was a large gathering of friends not only from the immediate
community, but from many points in Ontario. The beautiful floral
offerings
bespoke the high esteem in which Mrs. Donly was held. The service was
conducted by Rev. C. K. Masters, rector of Trinity Church, and
interment was made at Oakwood Cemetery. The bearers were
Messrs. W. D. Powell, B. T. Jackson,
W. P. Mackay, H. L. Selby, James
Riley and Charles E. Innes.
