Zryd, Katherine (née Dowser) (Died)

The death occurred in Kitchener-Waterloo hospital on Monday night of Mrs. Oscar J. Zyrd, of Hespeler, a former well known and popular Grimsby resident.

The late Mrs. Zryd had the misfortune to slip on an icy sidewalk on December 16th and in falling fractured her hip. She was immediately rushed to hospital at Kitchener but she suffered two heart attacks before her physicians were able to set the broken limb. Her condition did not improve and she passed away on Monday night.

Born on Paton Street, in the home now owned by the Chivers family, she was the daughter of the late Charles and Mrs. Dowser. She was named Katherine but to her legion of friends throughout the district she was just Katie. A fine, statuesque young woman with a real Irish disposition and a smile for everybody, she made many friends from her earliest years.

As a young girl going out into the business world, she entered the services of the late George Miller, the manager of a commission office for the Bell Telephone Co. When the Bell Company decided to open and operate their own office in Grimsby, she was appointed manager and chief operator of the local office.

In 1910 The Hamilton Spectator in order to build circulation for that "Great Family Journal" conducted a subscription contest throughout the Fruit Belt, the prize being a free trip to Europe for the five winning contestants between Hamilton and Beamsville. Katie Dowser was the Grimsby representative and she won out and made the trip to Europe.

Shortly after returning from Europe she married the late Oscar J. Zryd, then a member of the Hall-Zryd foundry Co., at that time engaged in the manufacturing of stoves and furnaces in the property now known as The Independent block. A few years later the firm moved to Hespeler, where Mrs. Zryd has resided ever since.

Surviving is one daughter, Mrs. Cal. Blachford of Kitchener; two sisters in Rochester, N.Y., and three grandchildren.

Funeral services are being held this (Thursday) afternoon in the Anglican Church in Hespeler. Interment will be in Hespeler.