The Death of
Alda McCoy Honig
George and Alda McCoy Honig's Tombstone

The tombstone has the wrong date of death for George. He died in 1962.

George and Alda McCoy Honig's Tombstone

The George and Alda McCoy Honig graves in Mt. Zion Cemetery on County Road 200 N. in Richland, Indiana were marked with plaques on March 31, 2012. The final installation was completed in May. The plaques give a brief description of each of their lives along with a photo. Costs of the plaques were paid for with donations and a contribution from the Spencer County Historical Society. Installation was done by a member of the Society.

 

Death Certificate

According to the Certificate of Death, Aldah McCoy Honig died in Vanderburgh County, Indiana on January 28, 1955. The time of death was 8:30 A.M. Her marital status was married. She was listed as white, female, age 69. Her date of birth is 04/14/1885 and the place of death was St. Mary's Hospital. Primary cause of death given was Heart Disease-Myocardial Infarction Arteriosclerotic Heart Disease. Physician or coroner was S. L. Johnson, M.D. The funeral home was Boone Funeral Home with burial listed as Richland, Indiana. Date of burial was 01/31/1955.

Burial was in Mt. Zion Cemetery on County Road 200 N. in Luce Township, Spencer County, Indiana. She was buried near her mother and father and was survived by her husband George H. Honig. There were no children.

Alda McCoy Honig's Parents' Tombstone

Alda McCoy Honig's Parents' Tombstone

Browning Genealogy Obituary

Found on the Browning Genealogy Obituary Search:
Honig, Mrs. Alda M. 69 1-29-55 Boone (funeral home)
116 E. Powell (local address) Richland Ind. Cem.
Trinity Methodist
Well known pianist and music teacher
Wife of George Honig, Tri State Sculptor and designer of the Lincoln Pioneer Village at Rockport.
Sister: Mrs. Ruth Bullock

The Evansville Press, January 28, 1955

George Honig's Wife Dies at 69 in Local Hospital

Mrs. Alda McCoy Honig, well-known pianist and music teacher, died at 8:30 this morning at St. Mary's Hospital.

She was the wife of George Honig, Tri-State sculptor and designer of the Lincoln Pioneer Village at Rockport.

Mrs. Honig was 69. She had been suffering from a heart condition and had been at St. Mary's since Dec. 21.

She was an accomplished pianist and had studied piano for several years in Vienna. She had taught piano, both in Evansville and Rockport, almost continuously since 1918, retiring about two years ago.

Her last studio here was in her home at 116 E. Powell Av.

Mrs. Honig was born near Richland in Spencer County. Her father was a doctor and the descendant of a pioneer family. Seven of her ancestors had fought in the Revolutionary War.

She began studying the piano in her childhood, and when she was 13 her father took her to DePauw University where she was accepted as a music student.

When she was 16, she and a girl friend from Evansville, went to London to meet Mme. Marguerite Lisziewska, an assistant of Leschetizky, one of the most famous piano teachers of his era.

Leschetizky had helped guide the musical career of the Polish pianist, Paderewski, who later was a founder of the Polish Republic, and who toured the world as a pianist.

Alda McCoy, still a teen-ager, was taken to Vienna to audition with Leschetzky. According to stories of this audition, as Alda McCoy began to play, Leschetizky grew red in the face, and Alda feared she had failed. When she had finished, the master began to applaud. "Very beautiful," he said.

Studied in Vienna

Miss McCoy studied in Vienna for two years and was called home by the illness and death of her father.

After her return she taught at DePauw. She married George Honig in 1917 and the young couple went to New York City, where they met Belle Dunigan a native of Rockport, an opera singer, and a director of New York's Philharmonic Choral Society. Miss Dunigan presented Mrs. Honig in a recital at the Waldorf and encouraged her to study for a concert career, but in a year the couple had returned to Evansville because of Mr. Honig's work.

Mrs. Honig had kept a memento of her days in New York. It is a gold baton, willed to her by Miss Dunigan.

She reopened her studio here. And one of her best known pupils was Mrs. Shirley Land Snethen, who has been piano soloist in many concerts here.

Founded Piano Club

Mrs. Honig was active in the Evansville Musicians Club during the '20s, and was founder of the Leschetzky Piano Club.

In 1933, the Honigs moved to Rockport, where Mr. Honig was instrumental in building the Lincoln Pioneer Village. Mrs. Honig was active in the Rockport Musicale, and became president of that group.

The Honigs returned to Evansville in 1948. Mrs. Honig in her later years found pleasure in writing poetry. A book of her verse was published in London.

Mrs. Honig was a member of the DAR, Indiana Federation of Music Clubs, Trinity Methodist Church, and Alpha Chi Omega social sorority.

Beside her husband, Mrs. Honig is survived by a sister, Mrs. Ruth Bullock, Evansville, and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Boone Funeral Home, Dr. Frank Greer, pastor of Trinity Methodist Church, officiating. Burial in the Richland, Ind., cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after noon Saturday.

The Evansville Courier, January 29, 1955

Mrs. Alda M. Honig, 69, Dies of Heart Ailment

Mrs. Alda McCoy Honig, 69-year-old pianist, and music teacher and wife of the Tri-State's most prominent sculptor, died at 8:30 a.m. Friday at St. Mary's Hospital

Mrs. Honig had been in the hospital since Dec. 21. Her death was due to a heart condition.

An accomplished pianist, Mrs. Honig studied in Vienna for several years and had taught piano in Evansville and Rockport since 1918.

Her last studio was in her home at 116 E. Powell Ave. She retired about two years ago.

Born near Richland, Mrs. Honig was a descendant of a pioneer family. She began studying piano in her childhood. When she was 13 she entered DePauw University as a music student.

At the age of 16 she went to London to meet Mme. Mauguerite Lisziewska, and assistant to Leschetizky, one of the most famous piano teachers of that time.

Mrs. Honig was taken to Vienna for an audition before Lieschetizky. She studied there for two years, but was forced to return home by the illness and death of her father.

Mrs. Honig taught music at DePauw until 1917 when she married Honig and they moved to New York City.

Waldorf Recital

There Mrs. Honig was presented at a recital at the Waldorf Hotel by Belle Dunigan, a native of Rockport, an opera singer and a director of the New York Philharmonic Choral Society.

A year later Honig's work brought him and his wife back to Evansville. Mrs. Honig opened her studio here. Among her students was Mrs. Shirley Lang Snethen, soloist at many concerts here.

Mrs. Honig was active in the Evansville Musicians Club during the 1920's and was founder of the Leschetizky Piano Club.

In 1933 Mr. and Mrs. Honig moved to Rockport. Honig was instrumental in the designing and building of the Lincoln Pioneer Village. Mrs. Honig took an active interest in the Rockport Musicale and became president of the group.

Return to City

The Honigs returned to Evansville in 1948. Mrs. Honig turned her interests to poetry and had many works published, including a book of verse in London.

Mrs. Honig was mentioned in "Principal Women of America," a volume published in London.

She was a member of the DAR, Indiana Federation of Music Clubs, Alpha Chi Omega social sorority.

Besides her husband, Mrs. Honig is survived by a sister, Mrs. Ruth Bullock, Evansville, and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Boone Funeral Home. The Rev. Dr. Frank Greer will officiate. Burial will be in Richland Cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home after noon Sunday.

The Rockport Journal, February 4, 1955

Mrs. Alda M. Honig, Native of County, Dies Last Week

Mrs. Alda McCoy Honig, prominent pianist, died at 8:30 a.m. last Friday at St. Mary's hospital, Evansville, after an extended illness. She was 69.

Mrs. Honig, a relative of Luce township, was the wife of George Honig, well known sculptor and artist who designed the Lincoln Pioneer Village in Rockport.

She was a descendant of a well known pioneer family of Spencer county. She began the study of music when a child, entered DePauw University at the age of 13, and at 16 was in London, England, to meet Mme. Marguerite Liszewska, an assistant to the famous piano teacher, Leschetizky.

Mrs. Honig auditioned for Leschetizky in Vienna and remained there to study music for two years before being called home at the illness and death of her father. She taught music at DePauw until 1917 until her marriage, after which she and her husband moved to New York City.

In New York she was presented in recital at the Waldorf by Belle Dunigan, a Rockport native who became famous as a singer and director under the professional name of Madam Goldie. Miss Dunigan was an aunt of Mrs. Maude Mason Lang, of Rockport, and by coincidence Mrs. Honig later taught music to Mrs. Lang's daughter, Mrs. Shirley Lang Snethen.

Mrs. Honig returned to Evansville and was prominent there in the 1920's as a teacher and as an active member of the Evansville Musicians Club. She helped found the Leschetizky Piano Club.

In 1933, Mr. and Mrs. Honig moved to Rockport, remaining here until 1948. She continued to teach music there, served as president of the Ladies' Musicale and was a member of the DAR, Indiana Federation of Music Clubs and Alpha Chi Omega social sorority.

Mrs. Honig had been in the hospital since December 21. Her death was caused by a heart condition.

Surviving in addition to her husband is a sister, Mrs. Ruth Bullock of Evansville, and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. Monday at the Boone funeral home in Evansville with Rev. Dr. Frank Greer officiating. Burial was in Mt. Zion cemetery.