From the Richmond Dispatch, 9/26/1900

TO BE BURIED FRIDAY
FUNERAL OF MISS VAN LEW TO TAKE PLACE THAT DAY.
MANY RELATIVES ARE EXPECTED.

Those from Various Places to Be Here, Some for the First Time – Services at the House – Deaths of Mr. Witt, Miss Bauer, and Others.

The funeral of Miss Elizabeth L. Van Lew, whose death was announced exclusively in the Dispatch yesterday morning, will occur on Friday at an hour that has not yet been fixed.

The services will be held in the Van Lew home, and only the relatives and near friends are expected to be present. The interment will be made in the family section in Shockoe-Hill Cemetery. Rev. Mr. Goodwin, rector of St. John’s Episcopal church, will be the officiating clergyman. There will be eight pall-bearers, but only six have been chosen so far. They are Messrs. Franklin Stearns, H. M. Tyler, Dr. Marcy, W. J. Davis, A. C. Becker, and O. H. Russell. The other two pall-bearers will be named by Dr. Joseph Klapp, of Philadelphia, nephew of the deceased, who is expected to arrive this morning.

MANY RELATIVES COMING.

Telegrams have been received from Miss Van Lew’s relatives in the North, and all will come to Richmond to attend the funeral. It will be the first time that many of them have stood at the old homestead, and will probably be the first and last reunion. Among those expected, besides Mrs. B. F. Nicholls, of Philadelphia, and Mrs. C. A. Rickseeker, wife of Rev. C. A. Rickseeker, of Buffalo, who are already here, are the following: Dr. William Paddock Klapp, Miss Jessie Williams, and Dr. Joseph Klapp, all of Philadelphia; Mrs. Joseph B. L. Klapp, Miss Mary P. Klapp; Miss John J. Hall, of Medford, Mass.; Mrs. John Van Lew; Miss Malvern Omohundro, of Radford, Va.; Miss Helen Van Lew, Mrs. Augusta Van Lew, widow of John Van Lew.

The nieces of Miss Van Lew, who were with her when she died, complain of the morbid curiosity manifested yesterday. Many people called to view the remains but admittance was refused to all who were not well acquainted with the deceased. This same rule will be followed until the funeral.

AS TO THE HOMESTEAD.

The probable disposition to be made of the Van Lew homestead has aroused much interest. Already a movement has been set on foot to secure it for a sanitarium. The two offers that Miss Van Lew received during her lifetime will, it is said, now be renewed to the heirs.

The body of Miss Van Lew has been embalmed, and lies upon a temporary bier in the drawing-room of the old home, the room in which she died. The portraits of her ancestors adorn the walls about her, and a lifesize portrait of herself at the age of 6 years looks down upon her. A plain black casket will be the final repository for the remains, and the funeral will be as simple as possible, in deference to the wishes expressed by the deceased shortly before her death.

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