For several years, I had been trying to find information on my maternal grandmother, Amy Marie (Arthur) Hollingsworth. She passed away in late 1940, several years before I was born, so I knew little about her. I recently found her obituary in a Santa Ana newspaper.
Obituary
The Santa Ana Register published an obituary for Amy Marie Hollingsworth on the same day that she died, February 13, 1940. It was on the front page. I saved the original clipping at Newspaper Archive.
Wife of Well Known Doctor Dies
Mrs. Amy Marie Hollingsworth, 49, wife of Dr. Merrill W. Hollingsworth, died suddenly at her home at 2442 Riverside drive this morning.
Mrs. Hollingsworth had been a resident of Santa Ana for the past 17 years. She had lived in California for 41 years. She was born in Denver, Colo.
Her father was a nephew of President Arthur of the United States and on her mother’s side she was a direct descendant of Winslow who came over on the Mayflower and also of Noah Webster.
She graduated from the University of California in 1913 and took her master’s degree in 1914. She was a member of the Ebell society.
Besides her husband, she is survived by four children, Mrs. Janet Bates, of Whittier, and Alan, Stuart, and Claire Hollingsworth, of Santa Ana.
Funeral services are in charge of the Smith and Tuthill chapel and will be held Monday at 2 p.m.
Santa Ana Register, Santa Ana, California, US
December 13, 1940, Page 1
Funeral Notice
The Register also published a funeral notice on the 14th. I have also saved the original clipping at Newspaper Archive.
Hollingsworth Rights Announced
Funeral services for Mrs. Amy Marie Hollingsworth, 49, of 2442 Riverside drive, who died at her home yesterday morning, will be conducted at the Smith and Tuthill chapel Monday at 2 p.m., with the Rev. W. J. Hatter officiating. Interment will be private.
Mrs. Hollingsworth was the wife of Dr. Merrill W. Hollingsworth, well known Santa Ana physician. She had lived in Santa Ana for the past 17 years. She was a member of the Ebell club.
Santa Ana Register, Santa Ana, California, US
December 14, 1940, Page 2
Death Notice
The paper also also published by on the following day. I have saved the original clipping at Newspaper Archive.
HOLLINGSWORTH — at her home, 2442 Riverside Drive, Dec. 13, 1940, Mrs. Amy Marie Hollingsworth, wife of Dr. Merrill W. Hollingsworth. Funeral services will be held Monday at 2 p. m. from Smith and Tuthill’s chapel, Rev. W. J. Hatter officiating. Interment private.
Santa Ana Register, Santa Ana, California, US
December 14, 1940, Page 3
Burial
Amy is buried at Wilmington Cemetery, in Wilmington, Los Angeles County next to her mother, Lucy L. Weldt, and near her stepfather, Joseph A. Weldt. Lucy’s first marriage was to Orris P. Arthur, Amy’s biological father.
An image of Amy’s headstone can be seen at FindAGrave.
Summary
In finding the obituary for Amy Marie Hollingsworth, I’ve filled in some missing family details as well as some intriguing background on her life. She was one of the early women to graduate from the University of California at a time when college was not a usual path for women. She also belonged to the Ebell Society, which was to promote educational and cultural opportunities for women. It will be interesting to find out more about these aspects of her life.
I also need to do some investigation on how exactly her father was connected to President Arthur, as I haven’t seen it detailed anywhere.
Very cool. Looking forward to more of the story!
Thanks. Tamera!