Pioneer Dies on 50th Wedding Anniversary

An anniversary, that word which in family life is associated with happiness and partying, was ushered mournfully into the home of Mrs. Angela DeWitte, 328 S. Cherry Street, Tuesday morning. It was the 50th anniversary of her marriage with Charles DeWitte [Generation 4] and when dawn came he was dying.
Fifty years ago she had watched for the break of day – it was her wedding day and she was to be married at 9 o’clock. Tuesday she watched, but it was for a different reason. She watched for another ceremonial, and it was that of death. And at the exact hour she was being married so long ago, Charles DeWitte died. And now in the years that pass, as October 31 comes around, it will be an anniversary, not only of her marriage, but of the death of her husband.

Fifty years to the day and hour after Mr. And Mrs. Charles DeWitte were married, death summoned the husband. This picture taken last Sunday, shows Mr. And Mrs. DeWitte on the front porch of their home with Mrs. DeWitte holding a grandchild in her arms.

Heard Mournful Chimes
It was in a little Belgium church that the ceremony was performed and at 9 o’clock Charles DeWitte heard the bells ring out to celebrate his union with Angela Claeys. Perhaps he was hearing those same chimes Tuesday morning, only chimes that were infinitely mournful, which rang out sadly to let him know that the end had come. Perhaps Angela sitting by his bedside heard them too, thinking of the church bells that called others to witness the Sacrament about to be administered. None were present at the Sacrament which was administered Tuesday.

Fifty years ago today at 9 o’clock Angela Claeys and Charles DeWitte were married. Yesterday at 9 o’clock Angela Claeys and Charles DeWitte were separated.

The separation of Charles and Angela did not last too long. Just two weeks later Angela (Claeys) DeWitte died at 7:45 o’clock Sunday morning after an illness of ten days with pneumonia. She had come down with a chill at the Rosary that was said for her husband. Her funeral was also held at the Sacred Heart Church. She is buried with her husband and two of her sons, Alphonse and Joseph, in the Cedar Grove Cemetery.