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Died, at South Bend, Ind., on Sunday, Dec 4, 1864, of pneumonia, Charles Celestine Sherman, infant
son of Maj.-Gen. W. T. and Ellen E. Sherman, aged five months and twenty-three days. It will be
remembered by our readers that Mrs. Sherman left her former home, at Lancaster, Ohio, and took up
her residence at South Bend, Ind., for the purpose of being near her children, who are being educated
at the Catholic institutions near that place. The remains of the babe were conveyed
to St. Mary's Academy, where they were received by a procession of lovely children
of the "Holy Angels," with white vails and lighted candles, and laid out in the parlor of the
Academy, the young ladies belonging to the Children of Mary keeping constant watch, both night and day.
The beautiful head of the child was crowned with flowers, which flowed like wavelets of light
almost to the feet, and his mother with touching propriety, placed a palm branch in the alabaster
hand of the little one. A silver crucifix stood at the head, and lights were kept constantly
bruning around him. On Wednesday afternoon the touching rites of infant burial were performed
by Very Rev. E. Sorin, in the Church of the Sacred Heart at Notre Dame. The Right Rev.
Bishop of Fort Wayne delivered an appropriate sermon upon infant Baptism. The music of the
choir, accompanied by the grand new organ just erected in the church, was indescribably touching
and beautiful. The procession was headed by the Cross, with lights carried on either side, and followed
by a long line of children of the Holy Angels (little boys who serve at the altar) in red cassocks and
white surplices. After these came the little coffin covered with a pall of embroidered white satin, a
dove of gold in the centre. It was borne by four of the little "Holy Angels." Next came Mrs. Sherman,
accompanied by the Superioress of St. Mary's, a near relative, with the other members of the family;
Very Rev. Father Provincial, Rev. Father Setourneau, and Rev. Father Carrier, who was godfather
to the child; then followed the pupil of St. Mary's and a number of other persons.
Source: NY Times, Sunday, Dec 25, 1864
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