The Waterloo Times
Friday, October 29, 1915

Hecker Lady Meets Horrible Death

Mrs. Catharine Neff, aged 60 years, met with a tragic death Monday.  She was making 
her home with her daughter, Mrs. Richard Parkinson, near the Blackburn school.  The 
family was cooking apple butter, and while her daughter went into the house to telephone, 
Mrs. Neff stirred the apple butter.

It is supposed she got too close to the flames and her clothing caught fire.  She ran for the 
back door screaming and her daughter came rushing out, but by this time her clothes were 
burned off and she was terribly scorched from head to foot.

A physician was at once summoned and worked to alleviate the sufferings of the poor 
unfortunate woman, but she died the same evening.

Deputy Coroner Fults held an inquest over the remains Tuesday morning and the jury returned 
a verdict of death caused by burns accidentally received.

Mrs. Neff’s maiden name was Goessling.  Her husband committed suicide by shooting.  A large 
family of children are left to mourn her untimely death.  They have the sympathy of all in their 
bereavement.

Her remains were laid to rest in the Catholic cemetery here Wednesday morning.