Mary Elizabeth Bennett Kostenbader

The Payette Independent
Thursday, April 02, 1925

Mary Elizabeth Bennett was born at Utica, New York, on April 4th, 1859, and was married to D. L. Kostenbader at Freeport, Illinois in October, 1882. Six children were born to this union, namely, B. H. Kostenbader, of New Meadows, Idaho; Mrs. G. E. Tromly, of Kamela, Oregon; O. C. Kostenbader of Kennard, Pennsylvania; Mrs. Lloyd Richardson, of Ontario, Oregon, and Harry Kostenbader, who died in infancy. The Kostenbader family moved to Payette in March, 1903, where Mrs. Kostenbader has made her home until the time of her death. Besides her husband and the children who grew to manhood and womanhood, Mrs. Kostenbader leaves two sisters, Mrs. Emma Kostenbader, of Freeport, Illinois and Mrs. Harriet Latham, of Hazelton, Iowa.

All the children, who loved her very much, gathered from their distant homes to pay the last honors to their mother, and to be with their father in the time of his great need. Funeral services were conducted from the family home on North Ninth Street, at 2 p. m., Saturday. Rev. Argyl Houser, of the Church of God, officiating. Interment was made in Riverside Cemetery, the services at the grave being in charge of Lorraine Chapter, O. E. S. of which the deceased was a loyal member.

Until ill health claimed her, Mrs. Kostenbader took an active interest in the various women's activities in Payette. Always a faithful attendant at club or lodge, and always to the fore when there was work to be done. She has been long missed during the months of her patiently borne suffering, and it is hard even now to realize that her cheery presence is no longer with us.

The large crowd attending the funeral, unremitting thoughtfulness of loving neighbors who for months have vied with each other in doing "little things" for her, are mute witnesses to the place she held in the heart of the community, and it is the heart of the community which goes out in sympathy to the mourners.

Payette Enterprise (March 26, 1925)

MRS. KOSTENBADER PASSES THE GREAT DIVIDE

Mrs. D. L. Kostenbader, a woman held in high esteem by the people of this community, died at her home last Monday evening at 9 o'clock, following an illness of but a few days. The immediate cause of her death being influenza. Funeral services are being detained until Saturday at 2 o'clock from the home, pending the arrival of a son and wife who live in Penn.

An obituary will be published next week.

Payette Enterprise (April 02, 1925)

MRS. D. L. KOSTENBADER

Mary Elizabeth Bennett was born at Utica, New York, April 4th, 1859 and died at her home in Payette, March 23, 1925. She was united in marriage to D. L. Kostenbader at Freeport, Illinois, October 11th, 1882. To this union six children were born, four sons and two daughters, one son, Harry, dying in infancy.

Mr. and Mrs. Kostenbader remained at Freeport five years after their marriage, moving at that time to Spencer, Iowa, and in March 1902 came to Payette, where they continued to make their home, and where Mrs. Kostenbader by her kindness and sweet disposition endeared herself to many friends. While not physically strong, she was always ready and willing to assist in civic and social affairs that were for the betterment of the town and community, and no woman was more devoted to her home and family. She became a member of the Presbyterian church when a girl, to which faith she held fast and continued to trust her savior to the last.

She is survived by her husband, D. L. Kostenbader, three sons and two daughters, B. H. Kostenbader of New Meadows, Idaho; Mrs. G. E. Tromly of Kamela, Oregon; O. C. Kostenbader of Kennerd, Pennsylvania; E. V. Kostenbader of Payette and Mrs. Lloyd Richardson of Ontario, Oregon, all of who were present at the funeral. She is also survived by two sisters, Mrs. Emma Kostenbader of Freeport, Illinois, (whose husband is a brother of D. L. Kostenbader) and Mrs. Harriet Latham of Hazelton, Iowa.

Funeral services were held at the home Saturday at 2:00 p.m. Conducted by Rev. Houser, where many and beautiful floral offerings were expressions of love and affection for the departed one. Services at Riverside cemetery were in charge of the Eastern Star of which order the deceased was a member.