Tillie Richter Lyman

  General Notes:

This letter is dated February 10, 1925 from East Haven, Ct. and is written to Theresia Cek May Kurka.

My dear Auntie:
I'm sorry to send you this sad news after two weeks of very bad suffering, Mother (Mathilda Cek Richter) passed away Monday evening about 10 o'clock. Mother had another shock two weeks ago in her leg. Her left leg became lifeless from her knee down to her foot and then started gradually to go up to the hip. We did all we possibly could to make her comfortable. She had a very fine nurse who was so good and kind to her and handles her so carefully. The doctor told us when she had that other bad spell, it was hardening of the arteries. This time a clot of blood lodged in the artery of the leg just below the knee and stopped all circulation from there down. Her foot and leg began to turn blue, then gradually turn black. When she died her leg was black up to her hip. The pain was where the clot lodged and just below her hip. She said it felt just like a terrible cramp and twist. O she suffered terrible and she just faded away. Her face and body is so thin. Her leg and foot had to be wrapped in cotton up to her hip. We had a surgeon specialist to see if anything could be done but he said her age was against her, if she had been a younger person, they would have amputated it. She was conscious until the last day. We had Father Hellerad minister the last sacrament Monday morning, so I think she went to rest in peace. We haave bought her a beautiful dove grey broadcloth casket with dull silver trimmings, lined in cream colored satin with a lovely round satin pillow to rest her head on and a silver name plate. She has a black dress with soft cream lace in front and collar, her beads add a bun ch of orchid sweet peas in her hand. We did not bury her lovely prayer book with her as we want to keep it as a remembrance. I know she will have lots of lovely flowers as we have many fine friends. My sister Emma took wonderful care of my Mother since Thanksgiving and until she could not stand running up and down stairs any longer as she is not very well. I am so glad you sent her that picture of yourself. She had it on her dresser where she could look at it all the time and I often picked it up and we would talk about the good times you had when you were young and wore out your lovely shoes at the dances. She said you were very jolly and lively. I think you look that way yet. Well Auntie, I think I have written you all that happened and all the arrangements we have made. I thought it would please you to know your only sister "our mother" had everything done for her within our power and will have a church burial, even though you cannot see her.
We have been having very bad weather here since the eclipse of the moon which took place Sunday about 6 o'clock. It has rained and a great deal of fog which is so unhealthy. We want to thank you and uncle for being so very kind to mother. I hope you will write to me or the rst of us occasionally.

With love from Tillie
P.S. Enclosed you will find notices from our morning paper

Note from Julia Sukup Cerny- That article is not included in Wilma Van Brocklin Sukup's materials. (2007)

Tillie is Mrs. N.E. Lyman and noted this address
Matilda Richter (Tillie's Mother)
48 Waite St.
Whitneyville
Hamden, Ct.
c/o Mrs. N.E. Lyman

Tillie married N. E. Lyman.