Randolph County, WV - Obituary of Mrs. Elizabeth Gibbel-McCann - 1944

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Copyright 1998 by Dorothy McCann-Phillips Dodie70 @aol.com
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(From Bridgewater College, Virginia)

     Elizabeth Gibbel-McCann passed away suddenly June 18, 1944, at the home
of her son, Henry G. McCann, Yonkers, New York, aged 76 years, 3 months, and 4
days. 

Elizabeth was the only daughter of the late John B. and Elizabeth (Royer)
Gibbel, four brothers having preceding her in death. Her early life was spent
on the farm. She had the privileges of of a good country school. The spiritual
atmosphere of her home prompted Elizabeth to give her heart to the Lord much
earlier than most young people of that day usually accepted Christ. On March
5, 1885 when not quite seventeen years of age, she was admitted into the
Church by Baptism, administered by her father. 

     She was graduated from Juaniata College, in the Normal English Course in
1891, and was a successful public school teacher for six years, when she
accepted an appointment as Missionary to India.

     In the fall of 1897 in company of Elder and Sister D.L. Forney, and Elder
Samuel  N. McCann, Elizabeth sailed for the Mission Field in India. In Bulpar,
India, on June 29, 1898, Elizabeth was united in marriage to Elder S.N.
McCann.

     After acquiring the language, Bro. and Sister McCann lived at Anklesvar,
India. They conducted Bible Classes, and visited among the "Bhila", especially
in Raj Pipla State, with unusual success. Sister McCann's outstanding
contribution in the early days was setting the example of a Christian home
before the natives. In 1900 their son Henry G. was born. The McCann's lived in
Anklesvar at a most strategic time, for famine stalked the land, and Bro. and
Sister McCann gave generously of their strength, even to the point of
endangering their health. 

     While Bro. McCann was carrying on extensive relief work, over great
stretches of territory, where people were dying of famine, Sister McCann was
busy with the general duties which come to every Missionary Mother. She felt
she must do all she could to teach the women and continued her daily Bible
classes. Her heart, burdened almost beyond the enduring point at seeing the
ravages of famine, quoting her own words, "Yearned for the time when the
conditions of the people shall be better and when the Gospel story shall be
known in every city,  village and hamlet in India."

     Owing to health conditions, Sister McCann, with her little son, returned
home in the fall of 1903. She was in the home land with her Mother for a year.
On March 1, 1904, their daughter Mary Roxanna was born. In June of that year
Sister McCann attended the Annual Conference at Carthage, Mo. She spoke in a
number of churches while on furlough, and her sincerity, simplicity, and
earnestness appealed to everyone she spoke to.

     It was the time of the "Bubonic Plague" in India, and Bro. McCann
remained at his post to care for the sick and dying, knowing the danger of the
pertilence about him, each letter, written home, contained a farewell message.
Those were the days of intense anxiety for Sister McCann, but she had a
triumphant Faith that carried her through.

     In November 1904, Sister McCann bade her mother farewell for the last
time, and with her two little children, returned to India. Again she was the
helpful home keeper and Missionary Mother.

     After Bro. McCann had given ten long years of faithful service he and his
family returned to America. He needed a furlough, for he was not well. They
set sail in the month of April, leaving Bombay and coming by way of China,
visiting some of our Mission Stations there and arrived in California in time
to attend the Annual Conference in Los Angeles in 1907.

     Sister McCann and the children lived in Lititz a few years while Mr
McCann traveled in the interest of the General Missions Board and later for
Bridgewater College.  They had hoped to return to India, but circumstances
were that they remained in America.  As in India, so in America they gave
their best to the Church. Bro. McCann became a Teacher of the Bible at
Bridgewater College.

     Here again, Sister McCann's hospitable home was a center of influence,
long to be remembered. Bro. McCann contracted a disease which caused him much
suffering the rest of his life. In 1917 he attended the Annual Conference at
Wichita,  Kansas and then went to North Dakota to visit among his own kin.

     After her husband's death, Sister McCann was Dean of Women at Bridgewater
College for several years, one year at Blue Ridge College, and later as Ass't
Dean at Elizabethan College for eleven years.

     After her retirement, she went to live with her daughter Mary, then Mrs.
John W. Wright, at Knoxville, Tenn. Another great sorrow came into her life,
when in 1940 Mary passed away, following an operation of appendicitis.

     Sister McCann went to live with her son and family in Yonkers, New York.
She found much joy having these latter years with these loved ones, and
especially appreciated her grandchildren, Donald and Catherine McCann.

     Her body was taken to Bridgewater, to the home of her very dear friends,
Dr and Mrs N.D. Cool, and the funeral took place from the home June 21, just
as her daughter Mary's did a few years ago.

Rev. C.G. Hease conducted the service at the hBetween many floral tributes,
borne by friends of Mary's and Sister McCann's, her body was carried into the
Church. Her life-long friend Dr John S. Flory, preached the funeral sermon.
Dr. Cool assisted in the service. A quartet of young people sang "Beneath The
Cross of Jesus", and her favorite hymn, "Jesus Loves Me, This I know". The
latter most appropriate for one who taught little Indian children to sing it
and love it. She was laid to rest beside her husband and Mary in the beautiful
Bridgewater Cemetery.

     The Anklesvar Church was built in 1929-1930 as a memorial to the McCanns.
It was a great joy when she was told of the Church which was to be erected in
memory of their outstanding work done among the people about Anklesvar, and in
Raj Pipla State.

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