Person:Edna Waddington (1)

The following is a memo written by Robert Brown after Edna died. Edna Marie Brown April 12, 1984

Edna was gravely ill in November, 1981 with a blood infection but none of the many specialists could state what caused the sickness. During the next six months, she partially returned to good health but was still bothered by arthritis. She was again in the hospital for three weeks in June of 1982 for more blood tests. An Oncologist-hematologist diagnosed her illness as AMYLOIDOSIS. This is a quite rare disease for which there is no known cure. It is always terminal with life expectancy varying from a few months up to several years, the average being about two years. The AYMLOID (a protein) deposits in nerves, muscles, and organs, incapacitating them,

In the fall of '82 she had carpal tunnel syndrome surgery on both wrists to relieve pain and the curling of the fingers. In October 1983, she was confined with pulmonary edema caused by the weakening of the heart muscle as a result of the deposition of this AMY LOID. She returned home after five days but was growing gradually weaker. Walking was an effort; she sat in a chair reading part of each day but she spent fifteen to twenty hours in bed. IN December '83, she had another bout with pulmonary edema. At that time, we obtained an oxygen generator and she was on oxygen almost continuously. Pulmonary edema continued to plague her and she grew gradually weaker. Up to the last, she still got out of bed to go to the bathroom but it was a supreme effort. She still feed herself with some help from us.

On the evening of Saturday, March 24, she dozed off about 9:45 PM. When I checked her about 30 minutes later she had died-- peacefully. Carol and Harold were with me constantly and were a great help and support. Marsha and Laurel came on Sunday night from Denver.

For over a year, Edna discussed with us her impending death. She told us what she wanted regarding a funeral and what she wanted in a memorial service. She also discussed the disposition of much of her personal effects.

There was no visitation and on Wednesday, March 28 at 10:30 AM, private funeral services were held in the small chapel of the Christian Church. Carol, Harold, Marsha, Laural, and I were the only ones present. Rev. Marvin Cheney presided. Internment was in Olio Cemetery on the south edge of Eureka. Obituaries were published in the Hammond Times, The Peoria Journal Star, the Bloomington Daily Pantograph, and the Woodford County Journal. Announcement of a memorial service was published later. In keeping with Edna's earlier wishes, the family and Rev. Cheney planned a service that we felt fulfilled her desires. The Memorial Service was scheduled for 2:30 PM on Saturday March 31 at the Christian Church in Eureka.

We did not have any organ music as it can be somber and depressing. Edna and we wanted this service to be not one of sadness and despair but one of rejoicing in recollecting her life and the benefits we derived from having lived with her and known her. As she suggested, we asked Dr. R. Bedford Watkins, School of Music, Illinois Wesleyan University to provide the music. While we were not intimate friends, we have known Dr. Watkins for years having enjoyed his many recitals and concerts. He has his own harpsichord which he gladly transported from Bloomington for the services.

April 12, 1984 EDNA MARIE BROWN PAGE 2

At 2:15 PM, Dr. Watkins began his harpsichord prelude. He selected sprightly selections from Scarlatti, Bach, and other Baroque masters. The music was just right -- it truly set the tone of the service. At 2:30 PM, Marvin Cheney and I took our seats near the lectern. Watkins continued to play for another five minutes and then Marvin opened the service with appropriate passages from the Bible. Our dear friend, Jeanine Abels of Bloomington is a poet and back in 1978 she wrote some free verse for Edna. Marvin ended his remarks by reading Jeanine's poem:

The pure excitement and the joy, The expectations that we have for the hours that lie ahead with a friend. Like blank pages of a book just waiting to be written from beginning, this beginning to the end. What a joyous occasion what a time for celebration Glory be Hallelujah We are friends. for Edna, May 5, 1978 Jeanine Abels Next, I gave a biographical sketch of Edna:

"It is gratifying and supportive to see so many of you here to pay honor to Edna Mary Brown. My family and I are most appreciative of your respect. This Memorial Service is not intended to be one of sadness and despair. Rather it will be a time of joyous recollection of Edna's way of life and how it has enriched our lives.

"As you know, she was an enthusiastic listener of music of the baroque period and to the subtle, yet inspiring, tonalities of chamber music. It is justly proper that during this memorial service we have heard 'her kind of Music performed on the harpsichord. Dr. Bedford Watkins of Illinois Wesleyan University has been our interpreter of the great masters this afternoon. We thank you Bedford for setting the mood for these services.

"Edna Marie was born in Cleveland Ohio to Everett and Lulu Waddington on August 20, 1914 where she lived for about six years. She then moved to Valdosta, Georgia where her parents managed a peanut plantation. A year and a half later, Edna and her family came back to La Grange, Illinois for a stay of about a year and then moved permanently to Hammond, Indiana. It was during her early grade school years that her artistic talents began to emerge. She was continually making sketches, drawings, paintings, and improving her techniques and awareness of the things of nature about her.

"She was most fortunate to have two teachers in high school who recognized her latent ability. They guided and encouraged her to develop her talents even further. During her late high school years, she received a scholarship to the Vogue School of Art in Chicago. She attended classes each weekend for a year.

"Besides her strong interest in music and art, she was fascinated with works of literature. Thus it was only natural that she was soon working at the Hammond Public Library among her beloved books. Soon after high school graduation her family moved next door to another family that had a budding engineer attending Purdue University. Two years after that engineer received his degree, he and Edna were married at the Thorndike-Hilton Chapel at the University of Chicago on Thanksgiving day, 1937. She became Mrs. Robert Brown, but to this day, especially in art circles, HE is better known as --- MISTER EDNA BROWN!

"The new couple returned to California and although their stay in California was short, Edna made dozens of drawings, sketches and water colors of the wide variety of beautiful subjects she found out there. In 1938, they returned to Peoria and her art work did not let up one bit. Interestingly, the first piece of furniture they bought was a grand piano, because of their strong interest in good music. By 1940, their first daughter, Carol Anne, arrived and it also marked their move to a new home here in Eureka. In mid '42, Marsha Marie made the scene, and to celebrate the post World War II period, Laurel Jo made her appearance in 1946.

"Raising three daughters and getting a new home in operation put a crimp in her artistic activities yet she managed to keep her fingers in the paint. By 1950, things had settled down a bit. She had more time for her own activities and she pursued her love of art with renewed vigor. She privately tutored several students. She took art classes at Illinois State University and at Eureka College. She taught several adult education classes --- and she still had time to teach Sunday School here at church. She also became a member of the Eureka Library Board. Within a short time, her artistic ability became recognized within the Central Illinois Community. She was asked either to hang one-person shows or to participate in general exhibitions.

"In the mid fifties, she exhibited at the Illinois State Fair winning first and third places one year and second and fourth places the next year in the category of water colors. She has had one-person shows at the Metamora Courthouse, the Eureka Public Library, the Washington Public Library, the Eureka College Library, the Caterpillar World Headquarters building in Peoria, and the old Peoria Players Playhouse. She has participated in other shows at the Mc Clean County Bank of Bloomington, the Bank of Illinois in Normal, and for 15 years she has exhibited in the Roanoke Art League's Annual Shows. She has thirty paintings on permanent display at Caterpillar's Technical Center in Mossvile. She won purchase awards at two showings at Eureka College. She was a member of the Roanoke Art League, the Walnut Grove Fine Arts Association, and the Lakeview Center in Peoria.

"She was a lover of nature and the finer things in life. Bird watching and identification was a hobby of long standing. Her back yard garden contained many species of wild and domesticated flowers. She impatiently awaited the Coming of each spring so that she could get outside and dig with her trusty spade in the fertile earth. Forms and shapes intrigued her as evidenced by her rural scenes of barns and trees. The configuration of still life forms fascinated her.

"Her entire life was marked with enthusiasm for all that she undertook. She gave of herself to others expecting little or nothing in return. To encourage and help students to further their talents, she endowed a scholarship for Art Fund at Eureka College.------ While we will miss her physical presence, her contributions to the betterment and the enjoyment of our own lives will be with us as long as we live."

Following my presentation, Marvin asked if any in the audience would like to their association with Edna.

ELLA BYRNES; (intimate and long time friend of Edna) Ella was a school teacher and had all three of our daughters in her classes. Edna was a true friend from way back. She was a tender and concerned Mother. She and Ella enjoyed music together---playing the piano together or attending musical functions. She and Edna were in a group that toured Europe in 1974. Ella mentioned that during the breaks in the tour, instead of gadding about the shops and frittering away her time, Edna was busy making sketches of buildings and landscapes. She said that Edna felt the high point of their trip was in Salzburg. A chamber music group was playing Shubert's String Quintet---Edna's favorite. The music , Salzburg, and the setting were just perfect.

ERA RINKER (Friendship of shorter duration but one of mutual respect) She looked to Edna to expose her to good music, art, and other cultural subjects. Edna was always willing and anxious to give Era a lift to the many cultural events as Era does not drive.

GEORGE HEARNE (Vice-President, Eureka College) Edna enriched the College and the community with her person and her talents. She had a great gift of beauty both in her person and in her art. She added elegance and grace to College events.

EDWIN BURKS (and his wife Beriece, friends since 1937 in California, retired V.P. Caterpillar and Robert's direct superior for many years) Edna sought ways to help others. Her art and her personality meant much to our lives.

BETTY JOHNSON (President, Roanoke Art League) Speaking for the Art League, they were honored to count Edna among their friends and benefited by her enthusiasm and cultural contributions to the group.

GLENN RIDDELL (Chaplain, Eureka College) He respected her as a gracious lady. He mentioned that while in the hospital, Edna was in a coma. He touched her hand; she woke up and recognized him immediately. Said he will remember that incident as long as he lives.

ROSEMARY HARTTER (Home maker and old friend) She mentioned that when she was a young girl, just married and her husband was in the service in WW II, Edna taught her the joy and importance of being thorough in house work---of the accomplishment of a job well done. Keeping house was not drudgery but something to be done with love for her family. In the fall of 1981 before Edna took sick, Rosemary commissioned Edna to paint a picture of the cemetery as a Christmas gift for her foster daughter, Jan Holliger. (Jan and Rosemary are overseers of the cemetery). Edna finished it after she returned from the hospital. It was Edna's last major painting, it is in their home, and they cherish it greatly.

EDITH AND WARREN ROEMERSBERGER (Intimate long friend and neighbors) They were in Florida and could not attend the memorial service. Edith had written a letter which she wanted read in this part of the service. It follows:

"Dear Bob and girls,

We are sorry that we are so far away from you at this time. We know in what a fine manner you carry on and how lovingly and devotedly you cared for Edna. Be assured that we are with you in spirit. We feel that all Edna's fine traits will live on and we can think of so many. her love and appreciation of nature---birds, flowers, trees, water, sky, etc. She was a person who really took time to 'stop and smell the roses along the way'. She had a good sense of humor, too, and we enjoyed that. We think of her interest in books and education. She commented on events of the day in an intelligent and enlightened manner, not using old cliches, but trying to make comments which brought a sense of fairness and possible solution to the topic under discussion.

Edna's talent as an artist was a gift she used in such a fine way. It was indeed a large part of her life. Many persons were admirers of her paintings and received a bonus of happiness and joy from them. We must not leave out her keen appreciation of music. Our many musical evenings together were one of the highlights of our friendship.

"We know you can take comfort in the fact of the fine person that Edna was and in the high quality of her life. We are thinking of you and God bless all of you." With Love, Edith and Warren

After the comments from the audience, Marvin asked Dr. Watkins to play one more number. I don't recall what he played but it was more stately and calming and was a fitting way to bring the service to a close.

Two days after Edna's death, Jeanine Abels composed a poem in memory of Edna, which while short, truly describes her spirit.

Edna Mary Observer and painter of beauty, attuned to music everywhere. Loving and kind: Quiet and gentle in a loud world. J.A. 3/26/84

Marvin read the poem and concluded the service with the benediction. He invited everyone to join us in the Parish Hall to share our fellowship and have refreshment.

Approximately 175 signed the guest register for the service and about two thirds of them remained for the fellowship hour. We feel that all of this fulfilled the wishes of Edna.

The obituary notices suggested that "Memorials may be made to the Eureka Public Library." At this time, six hundred eighty dollars have been received by the Library. In addition at least five persons have donated or dedicated books to Edna's memory. I know that Edna would have been pleased with this show of respect.

By Robert Curtis Brown

Carol writes of her mother regarding personality / interests " being creative in artistic ways which touched every aspect of her life: music, books, art, sewing, crocheting,