File:1937 - Letter from Amanda to Clara after death of thier Mom.jpg

<references/> Seattle, WA, 1-1-37

Dear Sister Clara!-

I am at Marie's now. Arrived here last nite at 11:30. Wanted to see Mother once more and left as soon as I could get a stage out of Oroville after I rec’d the Telegram, but Mother had passed away before I even got away from Oroville. I certainly would have liked to see her alive just once more. I am remaining now for funeral Monday. Dad recognized me and called me by name. He looks very pitiful lost and forlorn. My heart aches for him. I am sorry either you or I could not have been here to help Marie to care for Mother for the last 2 months. Julie was with Mother at the time of death. I ran on to Manual at Wenatchee and we made the trip together. Per stage. Made it a lot more pleasant. Felt awfully sick tho, all the way over.

We just returned from the funeral parlor. Mother looks beautiful. I never saw a more beautiful corpse. I could hardly realize that she was dead. Dad stroked and stroked her head. Kissed her and made over her a lot. The radio is turned on and I can hardly express myself as I would like to. Dad wants a picture of Mother and Fred asked the undertaker to get a photographer and have it taken. I am glad he is, as she looks so pretty, and I know you will enjoy one of her too. She has the dress on you made for her and the lavender flower is just so becoming to her face. Words cannot express how beautiful she looks. How I wish you could see her. She looks just as tho she was asleep and shows what a wonderful life she lived.

We are at Marie’s now. E.P. and I are the only ones that have arrived so far. Dad too is here and is going to eat dinner here. I have a terrible headache and must quit writing.

Marie asked me to write as she is too busy - but will add a few lines to this letter.

Fred's place looks nice and clean now. We sure have lots to thank you for - for doing as you did for mother and for cleaning up the place for the folks last summer.

I can think of no more to write now. Will write you more when I get back to Oroville. I am ?? of worried about the girls as I left in such a hurry and left nothing prepared for them.

Hope you and Ralph are well. I will have to scare up some aspirin as I sure have a terrible headache.

Lots of Love, Elsa

Dear Clara: In a hurry and I can’t say what I want too as my thoughts are so muddled. Even though you and Gene can’t come, you're with us all in thought I’m sure. I regret so that I didn’t pray with mother each day. I was so dumb and didn’t realize she was dying. The last day she was so much better and tho’t sure she would rally again. She wanted to say something to me as she would say Marie and her hands would go heavenward but just that fast her thoughts left her. Oh if I hadn’t been so dumb.

Well, I’ll write everything later when I can sit down in peace.

Lots of Love, Marie

source: Clara Hinderer Baur collection.