Lizzie's servic/memorial

snokkums · Post by **snokkums** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 6:34 pm

I have always wandered about what was Lizzie's serivce like when she died. Was it religous or what?

theebmonique · Post by **theebmonique** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 7:35 pm

Here are Lizzie's funeral instructions. I believe it was Harry who posted them sometime a while back.

Tracy...

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 11:13 pm

Thanks for re-posting that Tracy!

Rebello, pg. 321:

"Mrs. Vida Turner was asked to sing the hymn My Ain Countrie at Maplecroft when Lizzie died in 1927. She was told by the undertaker not to tell anyone where she had been."

There's more to this account. Anyone have more details?

Stefani · Post by **Stefani** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 11:16 pm

These funeral instructions came from a handwriting analysis web site that was found a few years ago. I wrote the person who had the site and she/he couldn't remember where they got the writing sample. I had never seen it before they used it for what they used it for. It is fascinating stuff, don't you think?

Susan · Post by **Susan** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 4:30 am

Cool to see that again. One thing I noticed, it may just be the quality of the copy, but, it looks as though the birth year Lizzie gives for herself is 1861 or 1867. Weird, hunh?

I did find what Lizzie had read at the house:

"Crossing the Bar" by Alfred Lord Tennyson

Sunset and evening star,
And one clear call for me!
And may there be no moaning of the bar,
When I put out to sea,

But such a tide as moving seems asleep,
Too full for sound and foam,
When that which drew from out the boundless deep
Turns again home.

Twilight and evening bell,
And after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell,
When I embark;

For tho’ from out our bourne of Time and Place
The flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face
When I have crossed the bar.

The 14th chapter of St. John:

1: "Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me.
2: In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?
3: And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
4: And you know the way where I am going."
5: Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?"
6: Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me.
7: If you had known me, you would have known my Father also; henceforth you know him and have seen him."
8: Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and we shall be satisfied."
9: Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you do not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father; how can you say, `Show us the Father'?
10: Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority; but the Father who dwells in me does his works.
11: Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father in me; or else believe me for the sake of the works themselves.
12: "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I go to the Father.
13: Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son;
14: if you ask anything in my name, I will do it.
15: "If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
16: And I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, to be with you for ever,
17: even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him; you know him, for he dwells with you, and will be in you.
18: "I will not leave you desolate; I will come to you.
19: Yet a little while, and the world will see me no more, but you will see me; because I live, you will live also.
20: In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.
21: He who has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me; and he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him."
22: Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, "Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?"
23: Jesus answered him, "If a man loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
24: He who does not love me does not keep my words; and the word which you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me.
25: "These things I have spoken to you, while I am still with you.
26: But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
27: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
28: You heard me say to you, `I go away, and I will come to you.' If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I go to the Father; for the Father is greater than I.
29: And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place, you may believe.
30: I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me;
31: but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go hence.

And the 23rd Psalm:

The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
He leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul:
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name' sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: For thou art with me;
Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies;
Thou annointest my head with oil; My cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the House of the Lord forever.

-- KJV

RayS · Post by **RayS** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 10:36 am

I remember reading that the newspaper reports of Lizzie's burial were concocted stories based on what they imagined. True?
US libel law says you can say anything about a dead person, true or not, and be exempt from libel.

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 4:37 pm

Thanks Susan for the transcriptions!
Do you think there are any *clews* in that Chapter of St. John?

DWilly · Post by **DWilly** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 4:43 pm

theebmonique @ Tue Aug 15, 2006 8:35 pm wrote:Here are Lizzie's funeral instructions. I believe it was Harry who posted them sometime a while back.

Tracy...

I don't know if it's just me or what but it looks to me like where she writes she wants the poem, "Crossing The Bar" she crossed something out and wrote "Crossing" over the top. Did she perhaps make a mistake or was there another poem she first thought of?

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 5:39 pm

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/c/r/crossbar.htm

Lizzie may have been suggesting the hymn version of this beloved poem. I had it sung at my Navy Chief father's funeral recently. The tune was composed in 1893 and it was very, very popular in Lizzie's day. The sheet music and tune can be heard at the link above. Being a church secretary sometimes pays off!

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 5:43 pm

As far as the 23rd Psalm and the reading from John- both are very standard Protestant selections which I use all the time for families now and which are so traditional at funerals. I doubt there is anything revealing intended. At Hame in My Ain Countrie however has possibilities!

diana · Post by **diana** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 5:45 pm

I think the crossed out word is "moaning"? -- so I'm guessing she was originally thinking of a specific line in Crossing the Bar which reads: "And may there be no moaning of the bar, when I put out to sea".

Susan · Post by **Susan** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 9:15 pm

You're welcome, Kat. No, no "clew" if there was anything intended by Lizzie with her selections. I did find the Crossing of the Bar interesting due to its seagoing flavor. Perhaps Lizzie chose it because of her love of travel, possibly by ship to different ports of call? Those trips may have represented a freedom for her that she didn't have in Fall River; freedom from gossip about her, stares, general rudeness, etc. And now at her death she would be setting sail on the biggest journey of her life, free from all of life's problems.

Thanks so much for the link, Shelley. Very pretty tune, I didn't know it had been set to music.

Diana, I have been caught on the word for hours, I can't decipher it for the life of me! Perhaps you are right. I don't know if its just Lizzie's handwriting or the quality of the copy, but, its difficult to make out some of the letters. You should see what I thought that last part of her funeral instructions said, I finally figured it out-Grave to be bricked.

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 10:14 pm

I agree, the sea imagery, what with the Fall River Line boats just down the street, must have been intentional as well as the 1893 date the tune was composed. If you play the piano, the sheet music can be downloaded at the cyberhymnal site. I have sung this piece in Watch Hill and Avondale, and it is known and loved by all who know the sea, and especially Navy people. I imagine Lizzie was also well-acquainted with Tennyson, being a voracious reader.

lydiapinkham · Post by **lydiapinkham** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 10:18 pm

Hi, Susan. I know which word you mean, and for a split second I thought the same thing.

Lyddie

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 10:27 pm

The stones for the family plot were ordered from an old carver here in Westerly by Emma and Lizzie in 1894. Westerly is famous for its quarries and blue granite. Ruth Buzzi's (from Laugh-In) family still has a monument business. It was once quite an industry in town.

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 10:40 pm

No funeral to be strictly private with a short prayer at the grave. At the house I wish read The Crossing of the Bar, also the 14th chapter of St. John and the 23rd Psalm Also sung the first and fourth verses of My Ain Countrie. Also a wish to be laid at my Father's feet. A small headstone to be marked with the others of my family-Lizbeth to be cut out on the stone-with the date Lizbeth Borden July 1861-The minister of the Church of the Ascension to conduct the service. Grave to be bricked.

I agree, after looking at the b's and r's in other words that it must be bricked. And it looks like Crossing the Bar was said, not sung after all- I missed it the first time! Church of the Ascension is Episcopal which is odd.

theebmonique · Post by **theebmonique** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 12:24 am

Shelley @ Wed Aug 16, 2006 9:27 pm wrote:The stones for the family plot were ordered from an old carver here in Westerly by Emma and Lizzie in 1894. Westerly is famous for its quarries and blue granite. Ruth Buzzi's (from Laugh-In) family still has a monument business. It was once quite an industry in town.

Speaking of the stones...on the family marker is says "Lizzie Andrews". I know we have wondered about it before, but Shelley, I am wondering now if being a local...do you know why the "s" is there ?

Tracy...

Susan · Post by **Susan** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 3:00 am

lydiapinkham @ Wed Aug 16, 2006 8:18 pm wrote:Hi, Susan. I know which word you mean, and for a split second I thought the same thing.

Lyddie

Hi Lyddie! So, it wasn't just me, thank goodness!

Thanks, Shelley, you are just a wealth of information! So, you see 1861 on Lizzie's funeral directions too? Lizzie was born in 1860, do you think she was forgetful or wanted to shave a bit of age off herself? Ha, maybe she did put 1867? I assume the date is correct on the Borden stone though?

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 6:49 am

We all have wondered about the significance of the "s"- added to Andrew. My guess is that it is an affectation just as "Lizbeth" was. Makes the middle name sound more like a surname. It also distances her from her father's name, come to think of it!

lydiapinkham · Post by **lydiapinkham** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 8:03 pm

If she wanted to distance herself, why did she place herself at his feet?

About the '61 date, could that be a zero that is poorly closed, then xeroxed and made even less legible?

--Lyddie

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 8:55 pm

I quite agree it could be a zero somewhat collapsed. Who knows why she added an "S"? Only Lizzie does. It does sound more like a surname though. Maybe that bit about being laid at her Father's feet was intended to further the impression she was innocent. I do not believe either name was legally changed- just affected personally. Probably if I had murdered Andrew, I would not like to bear his name forever, and on my gravestone to boot. I wonder why she did not say she wanted to be at her mother Sarah's feet? I guess we will never know.

doug65oh · Post by **doug65oh** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 9:10 pm

The 'why she didn't ask to be buried at her mother's feet' question - well, one fairly simple (and strangely logical) explanation might be that she never really knew Sarah except by repute, possibly a few vague memories, and family lore - so she went with what she knew - the father to whom she had given the ring. Of course it's speculation, but it's at least a plausible answer.

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 9:59 pm

Ever since I learned of Lizzie's souvenir of her Grand Tour, Rafaello's Madonna , I see a similarity to it and the well-known photo of Sarah Morse holding little Emma- another chestnut-haired mother and child. Emma seemed to have some measure of stepmother resentment which she may have passed along to Lizzie perhaps- and that very telling statement of Lizzie's "She's not my mother - she's my stepmother" always made me feel she missed her own true mother.

theebmonique · Post by **theebmonique** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 10:32 pm

A close up:

Tracy...

Societygirl1892 · Post by **Societygirl1892** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 10:01 pm

As for the "Andrews", I think that may have been the stone mason's error and there was no one left in the family to fix it, although how would you fix it even if there was someone left who noticed the error.
I'm wondering too, what does "grave to be bricked". What does bricked mean?
The laying of her body at her father's feet I think to show her devotion to him, and since she did not possess a memory of her mother, no point of being laid at her mother's feet.
I liked the selections she chose. She seemed to be very spiritual.
I don't believe she did it, so seeing this information on how she wanted to be laid to rest really gets me. I think it speaks of her loneliness in her later years.
If she did it, think what she had to live with...
and if she DIDN'T, think of what she had to live with.
Rest in peace, Lizzie.
Pammie

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 2:19 am

Lizbeth might have depended on a reasonable idea that Emma would die first, so in her *Instructions* she may have been *calling dibs.*
*Dibs on being buried at Father's feet!* so Emma would end up at her mothers'- that might be something she, Emma, herself preferred.

1bigsteve · Post by **1bigsteve** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 10:53 am

diana @ Wed Aug 16, 2006 2:45 pm wrote:I think the crossed out word is "moaning"? -- so I'm guessing she was originally thinking of a specific line in Crossing the Bar which reads: "And may there be no moaning of the bar, when I put out to sea".

Could it be "mourning?" It looks as if it has at least 8 and more like 9 letters in it.

-1bigsteve (o:

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Lizzie's servic/memorial

Lizzie's servic/memorial

Lizzie's service/memorial