Obituary of Bella Sprague

SpragueBella Bella Sprague Bella MacTurk McDiarmid Maine Sprague, age 96, of 26 Meade Street, Buckhannon, WV, passed away with cancer Tuesday morning November 7, 2007 at Holbrook on the Hill under the care of St. Joseph’s Hospital Home Health and Hospice. She was born July 9, 1911 in Hailesboro, NY. She is the last surviving member of her family. Surviving are her children, Hugh C. Maine and daughter-in-law Barbara Mack Maine of Belleville, IL, a daughter, Kay Maine Sienkiewicz and son-in-law Edward C. Sienkiewicz of Buckhannon, WV, a son Bruce H. Maine and daughter-in-law Beverly Bennett Maine of Swansea, IL, a step-daughter, Jane Sprague Mintz of Hayesville, NC and a step-daughter-in-law Edith Sprague of Gouverneur, NY. She has seven grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren, 10 step-grandchildren, 22 great step-grandchildren, 6 great-great step-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Hubert C. Maine of Hermon, NY, Chester Haile Sprague of Gouverneur, NY, a stepson Donald F. Sprague and step-grandson Stephen Henry Sprague of Gouverneur, NY. She was also preceded in death by six sisters, Mrs. Belle Spilman of Gouverneur, NY, Mrs. Ellen Davey of Fulton, NY, Mrs. Mary Eirich of Herkimer, NY, Mrs. Martha Stronach of Hailesboro,NY, Mrs. Jessie Bench of Ogdensburg, NY and Mrs. Bessy Jemery of Hailesboro, NY, three brothers, Robert C. MacTurk, Thomas MacTurk, and William MacTurk of Hailesboro, NY. Mrs. Sprague was employed at Nathan Frank’s Department Store and manager of the Princess Shop of Ogdensburg, NY. She was also manager of the Surprise Store in Gouverneur, NY. She moved to Buckhannon in 1968 to reside with her daughter and family. She was employed at Shannon’s and Stone & Thomas Department Stores in retailing. Mrs. Sprague was a member of Ogdensburg Business and Professional Women’s Club, The Buckhannon Business and Professional Women’s Club and Teter’s CEO Club. In her earlier years, Bella enjoyed playing bridge, was a beautiful seamstress and enjoyed working with crafts and crocheting Afghans. She always kept in touch with her friends and family. She was a devoted wife, mother, good friend, neighbor and great role model for her children and grandchildren who loved her very much. At the request of the family, her body was donated to the Human Gifts Registry at Ruby Memorial Hospital at Morgantown, WV. A memorial service will be held next summer in Gouverneur, NY and a burial will follow at the Riverside Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to The Rosenbaum Family House, WV University Hospital Medical Center Drive, PO Box 8228, Morgantown, WV 26502-8228, St. Joseph’s Hospital in care of Hospice and Home Health 1 Amalia Drive, Buckhannon, WV 26201 or Upshur County Humane Society, PO Box 2292, Buckhannon, WV 26201. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.polingstclair.com. Poling-St. Clair Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.