Obituary of Jane Crosgrove Mateer

This afternoon the body of the oldest member of this Church was laid in its final resting place. Mrs. Jane Mateer, a faithful member of our Missionary Society has entered upon the fuller, richer service of those who "see Him face to face." Her combination of sweet simplicity with ripe good judgment, her buoyant youthfulness, even in old age, and above all, her fine charity of thought and action were redolent of that peace which comes only to those who renew the freshness of their lives by daily waiting on the Lord. This spirit continuing unabated in its vigor to the very confines of an unusually long life is worthy of our admiration and love.

Our Missionary Society, especially those of us of the older generation will always cherish the memory of Mrs. Mateer. We tender her family the assurances of our sympathy in their great loss.

After ninety good faithful and eminently useful years, Mrs. Mateer entered into that life eternal where rest the well beloved of the Lord who have been true to the very end, only waiting for the final summons. It was a life of careful days and faithful service to her family, to her friends, to the appeals for help and to her Lord.

She was born in Westfield, N. Y., October 12^th, 1829, and was the daughter of John and Sarah Nesbit Crosgrove, and in early life was a favorite among the young people of her day. Her marriage was a matter of the selection of the fittest, and well did she choose, for a more faithful husband and father than Robert M. Mateer would be difficult to find. He was diligent in business, fervent in spirit serving the Lord, and Mrs. Mateer was faithful in every duty to her family and her God.

Their home was one of quiet, sincere hospitality. To them were given four children: Joseph, who with his family reside in St. Louis; Fanny, the wife of Albert B. Wright, whose home is in Buffalo, and two lovely daughters, Jennie Sara and Ella Agnes, who were taken when five and ten years of age.

To Mrs. Mateer the loss of her husband was a blow that her friends feared would overwhelm her, but she soon took up the work and duties of the hour and gave evidence of her strong character and faithfulness to every good work and to every appeal that came to her; and while the earthly tabernacle is laid away the influence of such a life goes on and on, and no one can appraise the value of such a personality to the community.

The funeral services were largely attended, while the profuse floral tokens told the story of personal loss felt by her many dear friends.

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Last modified November 19, 2001.
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