by Laurel | April 10th, 2012
10 April 1928
Skinner Family Lot, Forestdale
Holyoke, April 9 — The body of Miss Belle Skinner who died in Paris yesterday will be brought home for burial. Her brother Joseph A. Skinner and her sister, Mrs. Kilbourne are in New York with William Skinner, as is also W. H. Hubbard, and tomorrow it may be possible to learn when the body will be shipped from France. Without doubt the funeral will be held in the Skinner Memorial Chapel with burial in the family lot in Forestdale Cemetery.
Sincere grief was manifested in Holyoke, for while only a resident here for part of the year, yet by here innumerable benevolences and in particular her interest in the Skinner Coffee House, Miss Skinner was held in high esteem. Every year, Founder’s Day, November 14, was celebrated for years. It had been her custom to be present and review the main incidents of her father’s life in brief.
It seems that at the time she was stricken with pneumonia she had gone to Paris to buy furnishings for her chateau, which had just been restored in the village of Hatton-Chattel, which she adopted. She expected to spend by a few weeks there so went alone. She had made tentative plans to return the 17th and later to invite her relatives to visit the chateau in July.
She was born in Skinnerville, the daughter of William and Sarah E. (Allen) Skinner. After attending the public schools, she attended Vassar College, graduating in 1888. She was a member of the American Association of University Women, the National institute of Social Sciences, the Women’s University Club of New York city, The American Women’s Club, Cercle Interallie of Paris and the Thursday Club of this city. She leaves two sisters, Mrs. R. S. Kilbourne of New York city and Mrs. Frederick Warner of Boston, and two brothers, Joseph A. of this city and William of New York city.
Adapted from The Springfield Republican.
