OBIT: Susan J. (SMITH) BREHMAN, 1882, Blair County, PA

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Death of An Estimable Lady.

Rarely is this community so shocked as it was Thursday evening on
learning of the sudden death of Mrs. Jessie Brehman, wife of Dr.
George E. Brehman.  She had been enjoying her usual good health up
till noon Thursday and had been busy about her household duties.  At 5
o'clock she was dead.  Her mother was with her when she suddenly
became insensible and her husband was soon at her bedside and Drs. Fay
and Finley, but medical skill was of no avail.  The deceased lady was
the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. S. H. Smith, of this city, and was born
in Johnstown June 16, 1850.  On April 29, 1878, she was married at the
residence of her parents to Dr. George E. Brehman, Revs. M. N.
Cornelius and Henry Baker officiating.  Her married life had been a
very happy one, and her hopes were never higher or the prospects
before her brighter than when death came.  The blow falls heavily on
the bereaved husband and parents, and they have the sympathy of the
community.  Dr. Brehman had already commenced the erection of a new
residence and in order to make room had moved the house he had been
occupying to one side.  As everything is in disorder about the
premises it was thought advisable to remove the remains to the home of
Mrs. Brehman's parents, and that was done same evening.  Mrs. Brehman
was a conscientious Christian lady and a member of the First
Presbyterian church.

The funeral services of Mrs. Susan Jessie Brehman took place at the
home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. S. H. Smith, at 2 o'clock on
Saturday afternoon, and were conducted by Rev. M. N. Cornelius, pastor
of the First Presbyterian church, assisted by Rev. Henry Baker, pastor
of the First Lutheran church, the same ministers who officiated at the
wedding ceremony of Dr. Brehman and the deceased, in the same house
only a few years ago.  The residence of the sorrow-stricken parents of
the lamented lady were filled with friends and the concourse filled
the yard and pavement in front.  The services were opened by the
singing of the 791st hymn, “My Days Are Gliding Swiftly by," which was
followed by the reading of parts of the twenty-first and twenty-second
chapter of Revelations.

Rev. M. N. Cornelius, the pastor of the deceased then made an address
in which he paid a glowing tribute to the character of Mrs. Brehman.
During all the years he had known her, as a dutiful, loving daughter
and as a noble wife, she had been great in all of the little things
which have to do with forming character.  She had made her home all
that the Christian's home should be, and when she died the blow fell
as heavily on her neighbors who had learned to know her as if one of
their own dear ones had fallen.  He invoked the tender mercy of God on
the stricken husband and parents and exhorted those who still lived to
learn from this sad death the uncertainty of life.

Rev. Baker spoke with great tenderness of the dead lady.  Although she
had not been a member of his church, he felt a special interest in her
welfare, as he had assisted at the happy marriage which death had just
rudely severed.  To the husband and the parents he could only offer
that consolation which comes from Christ and which he was sure they
would receive.  Rev. Baker then closed the service with prayer and the
casket containing the remains were closed forever.

The pall bearers, who were all members of the medical profession, bore
the remains to the hearse, and the mournful cortege, which was one of
the largest we have ever seen, proceeded to Fairview cemetery.  Every
member of the medical fraternity of the city was present and a great
many from Hollidaysburg, Tyrone and other parts of the county were
present.  After the burial service was said at the cemetery the casket
was placed in the family vault and the sorrowing friends returned to
their homes.  The husband and parents of the deceased lady are much
affected by the over-powering kindness and sympathy extended to them
by their friends, acquaintances and the public generally, and they
desire, through the TRIBUNE, to express their heartfelt thanks for
every kind word and act.

Altoona Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Thursday, June 1, 1882, page 3