Two sisters, Hazel and Gladys Mintz, never knew each other in this world, but are joined together in eternal sleep in the IOOF Cemetery at Pioneer & Military Memorial Park located in downtown Phoenix, Arizona. Both sleeping angels were only three years old when they died.
Hazel was a sweet faced little three year old—the child of George A and Jennie E Mintz--when she was overtaken by a frightful accident on November 21, 1892. While playing in the parlor at the family home about 7:00pm, an ornamental stand lamp was overturned, throwing the oil all over her clothing completely saturating them. Her clothing took fire from the overturned ignited lamp. There was no one else in the room at the time of the accident, but some of the children's screams attracted help. The burning child was dragged outside and the flames extinguished.
She was terribly burned on the right side of her face and shoulder, while the lower part of her body and limbs were completely burned. The doctors were sent for and they did all that could be done to relieve her pain. The physicians believed that if she could survive the shock she might be saved—although her recovery would be an exception to the rule that when one-fourth of the human body is burned, death is almost certain.
Later she was still under the influence of opiates, but her life seemed to be sinking. Her grief-stricken parents had given up hope on her recovery. She died a few hours later. Mr. and Mrs. Mintz extended heartfelt sympathies of their neighbors and that of Mr. Mintz’s newspaper colleagues. Little Hazel was laid to rest in the l O O F cemetery with a beautiful tombstone marker in her honor.
A few years later, the Mintz family faced tragedy once again. Gladys, again only three years old, died late one afternoon on April 29, 1899. The little girl was taken sick and her illness developed into diphtheria. She was given prompt medical attention and was cared for by loving friends and neighbors. Nothing they could do could thwart the dreaded disease. There were a few moments that an improvement seemed to indicate a recovery, but a sudden change for the worse appeared and she sank into a dreamless sleep.
The funeral of Gladys Mintz was held at 3:00pm at the family residence on 325 N Fourth Avenue. Due to the nature of the disease, diphtheria, only the immediate friends of the family were present. It was unadvisable for children and young people to attend. All possible sanitary measures were taken so that friends were able to pay their last respects to the memory of the little girl.
For the second time the grief stricken parents were called upon to bear the cross of losing a child. The reverend from the First Methodist Church conducted the service and after a few words of consolation, the little white casket was carried by loving friends to its last resting place beneath the waving branches and the whitened sentimental in the silent city of the dead.
She was buried in the Odd Fellows’ cemetery beside her sister Hazel. The grave had been tastefully decorated with the branches of evergreen and everything possible was done to relieve the saddening hour. Mr. and Mrs. Mintz were old residents of Phoenix and had many friends who mourned with them. Mr. Mintz was a city editor with the Phoenix newspaper.
“When Life’s December snows have melted:
When the mists have rolled away,
They shall meet in gladsome promise
In that bright eternal May.”
On your next visit to the Pioneer & Military Memorial Park cemeteries—bring a little tribute to the honor the short bittersweet lives of Hazel and Gladys Mintz. These angels can be visited on various open house weekends or Thursdays from 10 to 2.
Pioneer & Military Memorial Park
1317 W Jefferson Street
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Debe Branning nazanaza@aol.com
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