Mrs. W. N. Bracken died at her home in Omaha last Thursday, March 20th, after an illness of several weeks’ duration. The body was brought here Saturday, and the funeral held at the Free Methodist church, of which she was a member for many years, at 2 o’clock, Rev. V. A. Bagley of Omaha officiating. Burial was in the Blair cemetery, she having been a resident of this city for almost forty years. Sarah A. Bridelman was born at Greenville, Penn. February 29, 1852, and was therefore just past 70 years of age. She was married to W. N. Bracken March 18th, 1871, and came to Blair in 1879, making this their home in 1918, when they removed to Omaha to be near her daughters, four of whom are teaching in the Omaha city schools. She was the mother of ten children: Thos. F. of Emerson; Charles of Norfolk; Stanley of Chicago; Mrs. Chas. Sylvia of Blair; Clara of Long Beach, Calif.; Mrs. W. J. Clark, Angeline, Ora, Ruth and Helen, all of Omaha. Besides her husband she leaves seventeen grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

#2-6 Apr., 1922 - The Tribune - Sarah Ann (Bidelman) Bracken

MRS. W. N. BRACKEN DEAD BURIAL MADE AT BLAIR

Mrs. W. N. Bracken died at her home in Omaha on Thursday, March 30, 1922 after an illness of several weeks, aged 70 years.

Sarah A. Bidelman was born February 29, 1852 at Greenville, Penn., and was married to W. N. Bracken on May 18, 1871. They came to Blair in the year 1879 where they made their home until September, 1918 when they moved to Omaha in order to be near their daughters.

During her residence in Blair Mrs. Bracken was a devout member of the Free Methodist church, a regular attendant, and lived a faithful, conscientious Christian life. However, she was a woman who could spiritually enjoy a meeting of any Christian denomination, and never failed to testify to God’s goodness to her in any place or at any time an opportunity presented itself.

She was the mother of ten children: Thomas F. of Emerson, Nebr.; Charles of Norfolk; Stanley of Chicago; Mrs. Charles Sylvis of Blair; Clara of Long Beach, Calif.; Mrs. W. J. Clark, Angeline, Ora, Ruth and Helen of Omaha; there were seventeen grandchildren and three great grandchildren; also three brothers and three sisters who still reside in Pennsylvania, who with the husband deeply mourn her passing.

The body was brought to Blair on Saturday and the funeral held at the Free Methodist church, conducted by Rev. V. A. Bagley of Omaha. The singing on this occasion was strictly congregational, this being a request of Mrs. Bracken when she realized that the end was near and she had arranged for the funeral. The hymns used on this occasion were “Rock of Ages”, “Nearer My God to Thee” and “Asleep in Jesus”.

After the funeral obsequies the procession wended its way to the cemetery east of Blair, and as the sun sent its rays from the far west, all that was mortal of this wife and mother was laid to rest near the place she had lived so long.

~~~Obituaries courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair, Nebraska Public Library~~~

Find a Grave Memorial #113534161