Obituary of Isabel Hunt

"Unusual honors were accorded to an unusual woman last Friday afternoon when Miss Isabel Hunt of Ideson Road, North Bloomfield, was laid to rest in the peaceful, pine-shaded cemetery of her home community.  A full military funeral was conducted by Falls Post, American Legion, in which she held membership for many years.  The color guard stood at attention, the firing squad gave its formal salute to the former Red Cross nurse in World War I, and "Taps" was sounded gently by a distant bugler.  The Legion Auxiliary was present in a body, impressive in their blue and gold uniforms.

Last rites were held from Kays Funeral Home where Pastor George Leissner of West Bloomfield Congregational Church spoke feelingly of the long and useful life of Miss Hunt.  As a graduate of the old Homeopathic Hospital, now Genesee Hospital in the city, she was a skilled nurse who gave active service to her country through the Red Cross from October, 1918, until April of 1920.  During that period she cared for disabled soldiers who had lost their sight on European battle fields, and her cheerful, sympathetic association with the boys earned for the affectionate name of "Mother" by which she was known by scores of patients.  Miss Hunt worked in the Veterans Hospital in Lakewood, New Jersey, and a similar hospital in Baltimore, Maryland.

Following war years she was again associated with Genesee Hospital for a time, but a major portion of her long life was devoted to private cases in which she excelled.  Untold numbers of middle-aged men and women in addition to many younger persons, began their first precarious moments of life under the care of Miss Hunt who was in attendance.  In later years she spent part of the time with her nieces and their families on the eastern coast and the remaining seasons with the Will Shepard family and the George Tylers of North Bloomfield.

Born on February 18, 1871, the deceased was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Elston Hunt of Boughton Hill Road.  Later the family moved to the present farm house of the Shepards on Ideson Road and Isabel with her sister, Lillian, grew up there.  They attended North Bloomfield School and went on to Clinton Liberal Institute, a Universalist Seminary for young people in Fort Plain, New York.  Coming home, Isabel taught for two years in the home school in company with Miss Frances Lottee who survives her.  She then entered the Rochester hospital for a nurses' training.

A faithful member of the North Bloomfield Universalist congregation with her family, she later attended West Bloomfield's Congregational Church when the former group became inactive.  She was a member for 50 years and a past matron of Union Star Chapter No. 328, O. E. S.  The local group honored her memory with an Easter Star service at Kays Funeral Home on Thursday evening.

Surviving Miss Hunt are six nieces and nephews who are Mrs. Mina Proper, Honeoye Falls; Mabel and Elston Shepard, Ideson Road; Leslie of Short Hills, New Jersey and Wendall of Lockport, New York.  There are also seven grand nieces and nephews and twelve great-grand nieces and nephews."

Source: "The Honeoye Falls Times" Thursday, 7 Nov 1957, on microfilm, found at Town of Mendon Public Library, obituary of Isabel Hunt.