ISABELLE ANNE COSBURN

DEATH OF MRS. COSBURN

YESTERDAY’S FUNERAL CEREMONY

Very general sympathy and sorrow have been evoked by the death of Mrs Isabelle Anne Cosburn, wife of Mr. George J. Cosburn, of the Market Place, Newbury. An attack of influenza soon after Christmas was the first illness, and this was followed by bronchitis to which Mrs. Cosburn has been a sufferer for many years. There was an improvement towards the end of last week and hopes were entertained of recovery, but on Friday there was a relapse and the end came peacefully at noon on Saturday, in the presence of her sorrowing husband and family. After forty years of married life the bereavement is indeed severe, for Mrs Cosburn was of a bright and genial disposition, and a real helpmate to her husband in his many branches of public usefulness. Few Newburians are known better than Mrs Cosburn, and the loss of his wife has elicited widespread expressions of condolence with him and his family, nearly two hundred letters and telegrams being received from friends in all parts of the country.

The funeral took place yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon when there were manifold expressions of sympathy, drawn blinds, closed shutters, and the attendance of a large number of friends and neighbours at the Parish Church and Cemetery to pay the last marks of respect to the deceased lady. The body was conveyed to the church in a glass panelled car, covered with a wealth of floral offerings, and at the west door, it was met by the Rev. Clifford Frend, the officiating clergymen, and the full choir, who preceded it up the centre aisle. The hymn “Peace, perfect peace” was first sung, and Psalm 90 was chanted. The lesson having been read, the hymn “On the Resurrection morning” was expressively sung, and as the body was borne out of church, Mr. J. S. Liddle, Mus. Bac., played Beethoven’s “Funeral March”. The interment at the Cemetery was witnessed by a large and sympathetic number of persons.

The mourners included – Mr. G.J. Cosburn (husband), Miss Cosburn, Miss Beatrice Cosburn, (daughters), Mrs. H. H. Hunter of Ramsgate (sister), Mr. G. Fontaine – Cosburn, Mr.Ferdinand S. Cosburn, Mr. and Mrs Frank H. Cosburn, Mr. Walter H. Cosburn, Miss Miles, Mr. Bert Lovegrove of Reading (nephew), Mrs. Giles and Messrs. W. Gamble, A. Allen, J.S. Herbert and H. G. Holt (the latter representing Mr. Cosburn’s office and printing works), etc.

Amongst those present in church and at the Cemetery were the Churchwardens, Messrs. H. J. Davis and Stephen Knight, Mr. Councillor Rankin, Mr. D. R. Jones, Mrs. Hamlen, Mrs E.P. Plenty, Mr. and Mrs. E. Gould, Mr. and Mrs. J. M. B, Mr and Mrs. Beames, Mr. R. Long, Mrs E.L. Staples, Miss Draper, Miss J. Burns, Miss Bunny, Mr. and Mrs. F. H. Stillman, Mr. and Mrs. W. Boyer, Mr. L. and  Miss Boyer, Mrs. A. B. Roan, Mrs. Saltmarsh, Mrs. H. W. Porter, Mrs. H. W. Porter, Mrs. H. Smith, Mrs J. Rolfe, Mrs. J. Herbert, Mrs M. Watson, Mrs. W. Keep, Mrs. Furnice, Mrs. Robinson, Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong, Mr H. Pratt, Mr J.E. and Miss Pratt, Mr. C. W. Westbrook (representing the “Reading Mercury” Head Office), Messrs. T. W. Turner, E. Southby, J. Parker, W. Edwards, W. Balding, G. K. North, E.J. Forster, J. W. H. Kemp, J. Straddling, A. Camp, H. Comyns, W. Burton, J. Targett, C.W Barns, A.J. Pellen, N. Burgess, A.J. Cramp, F. Staunton, A. Purdue, F. H. Offer, A. E. Pyke, N. C. Giles, Edgar Stillman, etc.

There then follows a list of those who sent floral tributes.

The coffin was of polished elm, with massive brass furniture and inscribed:-

Isabelle Anne Cosburn

Died Jan. 21, 1905

Aged 66

The funeral arrangements were carried out by Mr. W. H. Saltmarsh, of Northbrook Street.