Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Dicken, Eleanor (Skellenger) 1919
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Sandy Heintzelman sheintz@iserv.net November 6, 2009, 10:21 pm

Belding Banner News, 9 Jul 1919
Mrs. Eleanor Dicken, aged eighty-four years and three months, passed away 
Thursday evening, June 26, 1919 at the home of her daughter and son-in-law, Mr. 
and Mrs. G.O. Bignell, 519 James street after a lingering illness from 
tubercular trouble and other complications, and the infirmities of age.

Eleanor, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Skellenger, was born April 5, 1835, in 
Canandaigua, N.Y. and came to Michigan with her parents when a small child.  
They settled in Macomb county, where she passed her girlhood.  She was united 
in marriage to Andrew J. Dicken, January 1, 1853 and they moved to Smyrna April 
15, 1861.  With the exception of a year in Colorado and two years in Belding, 
Smyrna and vicinity continued to be their residence.  To them four children 
were born, Charles, who died in infancy, Milo, of Smyrna, Eva J. Bignell, of 
Belding and Maude VanEvery who died twenty-one years ago.  Mr. Dicken died 
nearly fourteen years ago, and his frail little widow bravely took up the 
burden of life alone, making a home for her son, Milo, and at various times 
other relatives who had need of a home and the sympathy she knew so well how to 
give.  One of the most hospitable of women, her home was a home to all who knew 
her and loved her for her sterling worth.  It has been said of Mrs. Dicken and 
her estimable husband that none were ever turned away from their door, no 
matter how poor and friendless, all received a hearty welcome and were made to 
feel that they had reached the haven of home.  The last years of her life she 
cared for a sister until failing health compelled her to relinquish the task.  
On the afternoon before her death her daughter asked if she wished anything and 
she answered, “no, I am slowly climbing the mountain to the place where loved 
ones meet to part no more.”

Besides her children, she leaves a number of grandchildren and great-
grandchildren and two brothers and a sister, Mrs. Susan Huff and Henry 
Skellenger, of Belding, and Lemuel C. Skellenger, of Portland Oregon.

Dead! no, she is sweetly sleeping; Resting from the toil of years, Then why for 
her should we be weeping, She’s safely from this vale of tears.

Funeral services conducted by Rev. W.J. Rooke, of Belding Congregational 
church, of which denomination she was a member, were held at the home of Mr. 
and Mrs. G.O. Bignell, Sunday afternoon, June 29, at two o’clock, and the 
remains were laid at rest in Smyrna cemetery by the side of her husband.  
Beautiful flowers covered the casket, and the singing by Mrs. Birney Strunk was 
sweet and comforting.

The relatives who attended the funeral were: Andrew Bignell, wife and children, 
Mr. and Mrs. Hubert Earle, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Mooney and son, Lloyd Hornbrook, 
of Detroit, Mrs. Alvah Dodds and son, Gerald, of Farmington, Thos. Skellenger, 
wife and children, of McBrides, Mrs. Phoebe Woodman and Mrs. Effie Wilbur of 
Romeo, Horon Winfield and Mr. and Mrs. Robbins, of Mosherville, Charles 
Skellenger of Rockford, Dennis Skellenger and wife, of Grand Rapids, Emmet 
Crawford, of Edmore, Mr. and Mrs. G.L. Bignell, of Grand Rapids, Leighton 
DeGraw and wife of Cedar Springs and Mr. and Mrs. Will DeGraw, of Easton.


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