05/05/2017
Miss Deva ELLSWORTH passed away, Thursday, April 23rd, at the home of her parents, Mr. & Mrs. Purdy ELLSWORTH, two miles south of Fairport, after an illness of nearly a year. She was thirty years of age. Miss ELLSWORTH was a graduate of East Rochester High School, Class of 1916. She was a talented musician and after her graduation, she joined the Madame Meyers Ladies' Band as cornet soloist and played an entire season at Atlantic City with this organization. After this she traveled extensively through the New England and many of the western states and Canada with several different musical organizations. To one of these, the American Ladies' Military Band, she donated her services and the band played at several training camps, giving cheer to the boys in the service during the World War. In 1921 and 1922, she played base horn with B.A. Rolfe's Musical Company, en tour. In 1923 she was with Lampham's Band at Savin Rock, an exclusive summer resort in Connecticut. In the summer of 1922, she played with the Boston Fadettes on a twelve week tour of the Chatauqua circuit in the New England states. Her last engagement was at the Casino restaurant, New York City, with the Ladies' Jazz Band.
Miss ELLSWORTH possessed a lovable character and was always striving for the pleasure and comfort of those with whom she came in contact. She was a member of the Baptist church and Sunday School and of Roselle Rebekah lodge. A delegation from that order and the Musicians' Protective Association attended the funeral, in body. The funeral services were held on Sunday at 3 pm, form the First Baptist church, Fairport, Rev. E. B. TAFT officiating, and they were largely attended. Musical selections were rendered by Mrs. Cora DUNN at the piano, Miss FITZGERALD on the violin, and Mrs. Edith STREET sang, "I Am Thinking of You". These are Rochester musicians and former associates of Miss ELLSWORTH. Stanley ELLSWORTH, a cousin, sang a selection. At the grave very appropriate music was rendered by picked musicians from Lampham's Band of Rochester. Floral tributes were many and beautiful and gave evidence of the high esteem in which Miss ELLSWORTH was held. Burial was made in Perinton Center cemetery, six cousins acting as bearers. Surviving relatives are the father and mother; one brother, Elwood ELLSWORTH, of Fairport; two sisters, Mrs. Anthony ENGLISH of Victor and Mrs. James NORTHROP of Macedon.