CORA HEDGES obituary

Cora T. Hedges, 100, of Havre died peacefully Friday, May 6, 2005, in her room at Northern Montana Care Center of natural causes.

A prayer vigil and rosary service will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Holland & Bonine Chapel. Her funeral Mass will be at 11:30 a.m. Friday at St. Jude's Catholic Church with the Rev. Robert D. Grosch officiating. Burial will follow at the Calvary Cemetery. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the St. Jude Parish Center immediately after the services at the graveside.

Cora was born July 9, 1904, to Ebenezer and Rebecca (Frazier) Workman. When Cora was very young, her family came west to Montana and homesteaded on the High Divide at Hysham, near Billings. Her mother passed away when Cora was 12 years old, and Cora then became the chief cook and housekeeper for her father and brothers who were still at home. As a young lady, Cora started working for her sister and brother-in-law in Billings at the Wetzels Cleaning Plant, which was a dry cleaning business. She met Bill Hedges and the two were married Nov. 15, 1926, in Billings. Together they worked at various cleaning plants in Billings, Miles City, Livingston and Sheridan, Wyo. In 1933, Cora, Bill and their family of then two children moved to Havre and worked at the Havre Steam Laundry and Dry Cleaners. Within a few years, they opened their own dry cleaning plant, City Dry Cleaners, at 424 Third St. Her husband died in 1965 and Cora continued to operate City Dry Cleaners with her son until the business closed in 1970.

Cora was an avid bowler in her younger years. She was a member of St. Jude's Catholic Church and was very active in Altar Society. She was a charter member of the Catholic Daughters of America, of which she was a member for 71 years. She was also a member of the VFW Auxiliary, Northern Montana Hospital Auxiliary and a member of the Home Demonstration Club.

Cora loved her garden and her yard. She puttered with them for many years. But her greatest love was for family her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. Cora remained in her own home until she was 98 years old. She then entered the Northern Montana Care Center and celebrated her 100th birthday last summer.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, William Hedges in 1965; two sisters; four brothers; and one great-grandson.

Survivors include her sons, Bill (Patsy) Hedges of Havre and Tom (Mary) Hedges of Clayton, Calif.; daughters, Catherine (Orval) Brenden of Havre, Rita Hedges of Billings and Lois Ehlert of Marysville, Wash.; 22 grandchildren; 41 great-grandchildren; and three great -great-grandchildren.

Memorials in Cora's honor may be made to St. Jude Parish Center, 624 Fourth St., Havre, MT 59501, or to Heart Beat Crisis, P.O. Box 1932, Havre, MT 59501.

Services and arrangements have been entrusted to Holland & Bonine Funeral Home.