As reported in the Petaluma Argus Courier 11/11/1940
MISS MARTHA HELEN DELESKY TAKES OWN LIFE ON RANCH;WORRY CAUSE OF RASH ACT
A woman, strained to the breaking point by ceaseless worry over finances and failure to make a success of the poultry business into which she is said to have invested $6000, her life savings, Miss Martha Helen Delesky, R.N., 50, ended her life at her lonely ranch, across the highway from Wilson school, near town, last Friday afternoon. A six-month-old dog, her only companion, sensed that something was wrong. When Kenneth King of this city called at the ranch Saturday afternoon about 4 o'clock, to purchase chickens from Miss Delesky, he recived no response when he knocked at the ranch house door. The dog, which greeted him when he arrived, kept barking and running back and forth to the garage. This interested King, who found the woman's body in a closed car. She had attached a garden hose to the exhaust and then sat in the car and awaited death by carbon monoxide poisoning.
King notified Police Chief R. E. Peters, who later informed Constable Pat Talamantes and Deputy Coroner John C. Mount. Arriving at the ranch the officials were also greeted by the woman's pet dog, who kept his vigil near the garage. As the officials opened the car door, the dog rushed into the machine and kept licking his owner in an effort to arouse her. It was with difficulty that Constable Talamantes was able to drive him away. He whined mournfully as they took the body away, the constable said. So touched was Talamantes by the devotion of the little animal that he went to the ranch Sunday, fed the dog and then brought it to town where he placed it in charge of Poundmaster A.F. Robotham, at the city pound, in the hope that the animal might get a home.
The woman, driven to her death by misfortune, according to Constable Talamantes, had endeavored to make a living by raising chickens, and having no experience, spent all the money she possessed. In her purse was $35 which officals found in her home with a note from an attorney, advising her that she would be sued Saturday if she would not pay her rent, according to Constable Talamentes.
There were numerous other bills unpaid that worried her, the authorities said, and there was practically nothing to eat in the house. A small loaf of bread was the only food she possessed, according to Talamentes. the dog was hungry as were other animals on the place, the officer said. Sick and despondent and with nothing to look forward to, the woman ended her existence sometime Friday. The constable also stated that the poultry she had owned, was taken for a debt some months ago.
She was a graduate of St. Joseph's hospital, San Francisco, and wore the pin. She also had diplomas and a license showing she had passed the state examination, necessary for a nurse to practice in California. A letter was found at her home from Nebraska friends, also a tax receipt showing she had a lot in Los Altos.
Part of the furniture in the house was packed, evidence that Miss Delesky had planned to leave the place, which she had leased for a year. She was an educated woman and had made friends in the neighborhood where she tried so hard to make a living, and failed.
The body has been removed to the John C. Mount funeral parlors."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MISS MARTHA HELEN DELESKY TAKES OWN LIFE ON RANCH;WORRY CAUSE OF RASH ACT
A woman, strained to the breaking point by ceaseless worry over finances and failure to make a success of the poultry business into which she is said to have invested $6000, her life savings, Miss Martha Helen Delesky, R.N., 50, ended her life at her lonely ranch, across the highway from Wilson school, near town, last Friday afternoon. A six-month-old dog, her only companion, sensed that something was wrong. When Kenneth King of this city called at the ranch Saturday afternoon about 4 o'clock, to purchase chickens from Miss Delesky, he recived no response when he knocked at the ranch house door. The dog, which greeted him when he arrived, kept barking and running back and forth to the garage. This interested King, who found the woman's body in a closed car. She had attached a garden hose to the exhaust and then sat in the car and awaited death by carbon monoxide poisoning.
King notified Police Chief R. E. Peters, who later informed Constable Pat Talamantes and Deputy Coroner John C. Mount. Arriving at the ranch the officials were also greeted by the woman's pet dog, who kept his vigil near the garage. As the officials opened the car door, the dog rushed into the machine and kept licking his owner in an effort to arouse her. It was with difficulty that Constable Talamantes was able to drive him away. He whined mournfully as they took the body away, the constable said. So touched was Talamantes by the devotion of the little animal that he went to the ranch Sunday, fed the dog and then brought it to town where he placed it in charge of Poundmaster A.F. Robotham, at the city pound, in the hope that the animal might get a home.
The woman, driven to her death by misfortune, according to Constable Talamantes, had endeavored to make a living by raising chickens, and having no experience, spent all the money she possessed. In her purse was $35 which officals found in her home with a note from an attorney, advising her that she would be sued Saturday if she would not pay her rent, according to Constable Talamentes.
There were numerous other bills unpaid that worried her, the authorities said, and there was practically nothing to eat in the house. A small loaf of bread was the only food she possessed, according to Talamentes. the dog was hungry as were other animals on the place, the officer said. Sick and despondent and with nothing to look forward to, the woman ended her existence sometime Friday. The constable also stated that the poultry she had owned, was taken for a debt some months ago.
She was a graduate of St. Joseph's hospital, San Francisco, and wore the pin. She also had diplomas and a license showing she had passed the state examination, necessary for a nurse to practice in California. A letter was found at her home from Nebraska friends, also a tax receipt showing she had a lot in Los Altos.
Part of the furniture in the house was packed, evidence that Miss Delesky had planned to leave the place, which she had leased for a year. She was an educated woman and had made friends in the neighborhood where she tried so hard to make a living, and failed.
The body has been removed to the John C. Mount funeral parlors."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As reported in the Petaluma Argus Courier 11/11/1940
MISS MARTHA HELEN DELESKY TAKES OWN LIFE ON RANCH;WORRY CAUSE OF RASH ACT
A woman, strained to the breaking point by ceaseless worry over finances and failure to make a success of the poultry business into which she is said to have invested $6000, her life savings, Miss Martha Helen Delesky, R.N., 50, ended her life at her lonely ranch, across the highway from Wilson school, near town, last Friday afternoon. A six-month-old dog, her only companion, sensed that something was wrong. When Kenneth King of this city called at the ranch Saturday afternoon about 4 o'clock, to purchase chickens from Miss Delesky, he recived no response when he knocked at the ranch house door. The dog, which greeted him when he arrived, kept barking and running back and forth to the garage. This interested King, who found the woman's body in a closed car. She had attached a garden hose to the exhaust and then sat in the car and awaited death by carbon monoxide poisoning.
King notified Police Chief R. E. Peters, who later informed Constable Pat Talamantes and Deputy Coroner John C. Mount. Arriving at the ranch the officials were also greeted by the woman's pet dog, who kept his vigil near the garage. As the officials opened the car door, the dog rushed into the machine and kept licking his owner in an effort to arouse her. It was with difficulty that Constable Talamantes was able to drive him away. He whined mournfully as they took the body away, the constable said. So touched was Talamantes by the devotion of the little animal that he went to the ranch Sunday, fed the dog and then brought it to town where he placed it in charge of Poundmaster A.F. Robotham, at the city pound, in the hope that the animal might get a home.
The woman, driven to her death by misfortune, according to Constable Talamantes, had endeavored to make a living by raising chickens, and having no experience, spent all the money she possessed. In her purse was $35 which officals found in her home with a note from an attorney, advising her that she would be sued Saturday if she would not pay her rent, according to Constable Talamentes.
There were numerous other bills unpaid that worried her, the authorities said, and there was practically nothing to eat in the house. A small loaf of bread was the only food she possessed, according to Talamentes. the dog was hungry as were other animals on the place, the officer said. Sick and despondent and with nothing to look forward to, the woman ended her existence sometime Friday. The constable also stated that the poultry she had owned, was taken for a debt some months ago.
She was a graduate of St. Joseph's hospital, San Francisco, and wore the pin. She also had diplomas and a license showing she had passed the state examination, necessary for a nurse to practice in California. A letter was found at her home from Nebraska friends, also a tax receipt showing she had a lot in Los Altos.
Part of the furniture in the house was packed, evidence that Miss Delesky had planned to leave the place, which she had leased for a year. She was an educated woman and had made friends in the neighborhood where she tried so hard to make a living, and failed.
The body has been removed to the John C. Mount funeral parlors."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MISS MARTHA HELEN DELESKY TAKES OWN LIFE ON RANCH;WORRY CAUSE OF RASH ACT
A woman, strained to the breaking point by ceaseless worry over finances and failure to make a success of the poultry business into which she is said to have invested $6000, her life savings, Miss Martha Helen Delesky, R.N., 50, ended her life at her lonely ranch, across the highway from Wilson school, near town, last Friday afternoon. A six-month-old dog, her only companion, sensed that something was wrong. When Kenneth King of this city called at the ranch Saturday afternoon about 4 o'clock, to purchase chickens from Miss Delesky, he recived no response when he knocked at the ranch house door. The dog, which greeted him when he arrived, kept barking and running back and forth to the garage. This interested King, who found the woman's body in a closed car. She had attached a garden hose to the exhaust and then sat in the car and awaited death by carbon monoxide poisoning.
King notified Police Chief R. E. Peters, who later informed Constable Pat Talamantes and Deputy Coroner John C. Mount. Arriving at the ranch the officials were also greeted by the woman's pet dog, who kept his vigil near the garage. As the officials opened the car door, the dog rushed into the machine and kept licking his owner in an effort to arouse her. It was with difficulty that Constable Talamantes was able to drive him away. He whined mournfully as they took the body away, the constable said. So touched was Talamantes by the devotion of the little animal that he went to the ranch Sunday, fed the dog and then brought it to town where he placed it in charge of Poundmaster A.F. Robotham, at the city pound, in the hope that the animal might get a home.
The woman, driven to her death by misfortune, according to Constable Talamantes, had endeavored to make a living by raising chickens, and having no experience, spent all the money she possessed. In her purse was $35 which officals found in her home with a note from an attorney, advising her that she would be sued Saturday if she would not pay her rent, according to Constable Talamentes.
There were numerous other bills unpaid that worried her, the authorities said, and there was practically nothing to eat in the house. A small loaf of bread was the only food she possessed, according to Talamentes. the dog was hungry as were other animals on the place, the officer said. Sick and despondent and with nothing to look forward to, the woman ended her existence sometime Friday. The constable also stated that the poultry she had owned, was taken for a debt some months ago.
She was a graduate of St. Joseph's hospital, San Francisco, and wore the pin. She also had diplomas and a license showing she had passed the state examination, necessary for a nurse to practice in California. A letter was found at her home from Nebraska friends, also a tax receipt showing she had a lot in Los Altos.
Part of the furniture in the house was packed, evidence that Miss Delesky had planned to leave the place, which she had leased for a year. She was an educated woman and had made friends in the neighborhood where she tried so hard to make a living, and failed.
The body has been removed to the John C. Mount funeral parlors."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Inscription
No gravestone. Burial date is 11-15-1940.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
