MySource:CC/Obituary for Almira McNeil

Almira McNeil Obituary as pasted in grand-daughter Almira O. Russell's family bible, source unknown:

Departed this life, Friday June 9th, 1876, Mrs. Almira McNeil, widow of John McNeil, aged 89 years, 2 months, 15 days.

Mrs McNeil was born in Trenton, New Jersey in 1787; moved with her parents to Charlton, Saratoga Co, NY when about eight years of age, were they remained for some time, and then moved to Middlebury, Schoharie CO., NY, where she remained until her marriage. After a few years they moved to Owego, Tioga Co., NY, where her husband died in 1844. Mrs. McNeil came to Belvidere in 1853, and remained with her daughter, Mrs, Isaac V. Draper until her death.

Mother McNeil was converted soon after her marraige, and lived a consistent Christian life for over seventy years. Her cheerfulness of spirit, calm trust and confidence in God, and unswerving faith in the Redeemer, made her life in these latter days a charm to all who best knew her. Her last illness (occasioned by a fall), was attended with the most intense suffering, yet was endured without a murmur or complaint. She enjoyed the constant presence of her Saviour, and a little while before her death, said to her pastor, "How sweet it will be to meet Jesus - to know him and to be forever with him," and gently fell asleep in the arms of her Redeemer.

Her funeral sermon was preached to a large audience by Rev. T.C. Easton, from these words -- " For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."

Oh If there be in retrospection's chain
One link that knits us with young dreams,
One thought so sweet we scarcely dare to muse again
On all the hoarded raptures it reviews;
Which seems wach instant, in its backward range,
The heart to soften and its ties to change,
And every spring untouched for years to move,
It is the MEMORY OF A MOTHER'S LOVE!"