Mrs. Robt. Rochester
Dies in Texas
 
Former Resident of Simcoe 
Expires while Driving

Among older residents of Simcoe there are still many who will learn of the death of Mrs. Robert Rochester of Dayton, Ohio with genuine regret.

Mrs Rochester was born Miss Annie Kendall. She was a sister of the late Thomas Kendall, of the one-time widely known Norfolk business firm of Misner & Kendall.

She was married to Mr. Rochester here in Simcoe 46 years ago. At that time Mr. Rochester was engaged in the building of carriages. Afterwards conditions in that industry changed and the building of carriages passed entirely to the big factories.

Thirty years or so ago the Rochesters moved to the United States, going first to Pullman, where Mr. Rochester soon found responsible duties with the big Pullman Co. 

He subsequently moved to Dayton, Ohio, and he has for a long time been very prominently identified with the great car building concerns of that city. He is at present general foreman of the Barney & Smith Car Co. 

He is a past master of Norfolk Lodge, A. F. and A. M., and when he lived here was a conspicuous member of the 39th Battalion Band.

Mrs. Rochester's death came with no premonitory warning and is a most unexpected blow to her grief-stricken husband, who writes that he is left with nothing save sweet memories of 46 years of the happiest family life.

Mrs. Rochester left Dayton shortly after Christmas to visit one of her daughters, Mrs. Robert E. Lea of San Antonio. Later she was joined there by a Mrs. Horne, a very old friend and neighbor. Together they were greatly enjoying their visit in the delightful climate and surroundings of one of the most beautiful cities of the Republic.

But as Easter Day drew near, Mrs. Rochester grew anxious to be again at home with her family. So Monday morning, April 2nd found her ready to start northward.

She was in a motor car on the way to the station to take the train, when her daughter, Mrs. Lea, who was in the rear seat heard her makeing [sic] a peculiar, choking sound. She put her arm around her mother, only to find that she had passed away. The Father had called to Himself one of the sweetest of Christian characters.

Mrs. Lea's husband was in Oklahoma at the time, and Mrs. Lea and Mrs. Horne started the next morning with the body on the sorrowful journey of 1.300 miles. They were met along the way by Mr. Lea in Northern Texas; then by Mr. R. K. Rochester in Arkansas, and at Indianapolis by Mr. and Mrs. H. R. Rochester and their daughter.

The funeral took place on April 5th at Woodland Cemetery, which occupies a beautiful site on a hillside overlooking Mrs. Rochester's home. The expressions of sympathy were many and the floral tributes from friends and the family beautiful and profuse.

In addition to her sorrowing husband, four children mourn the loss of a revered mother. They are
H. R. Rochester of Chicago, Western representative of the J. P. Morgan industrial interests; 
R. K. Rochester, superintendent of the Pennsylvania lines at Cleveland, Ohio; 
Mrs. H. Q. Schneck of Dayton, and Mrs. Robert E. Lea of San Antonio, Texas.