Obituaries

We now have over 7,000 obituaries collected about the interred here at Silverbrook Cemetery.

The obituaries are transcribed by the volunteers of the Friends of Silverbrook Cemetery from various sources.  If you see an opportunity for an addition or a correction, please email our obituary editor at obits@friendsofsilverbrook.org.

Tusing, Anna K.

Mrs. Anna K. Tusing
Dec. 5, 1856-May 16, 1948


    Mrs. Anna K. Tusing, 82, 201 Canal street, died at 2:15 a.m.  Sunday in the Berrien Springs Wall Nursing home. She had been ill several years.
    Services will be held 10 a.m. Tuesday in S.[sic] Mary's Catholic church with the Rev. Leo Zavatsky officiating. Interment will be in Silverbrook cemetery.  Friends may call at the Kiger funeral home.
    Mrs. Tusing was born Dec. 5, 1856 in Niles and spent her lifetime here. She was a member of St. Mary's church.
    Surviving are her husband, Samuel; a daughter, Mrs. Jeanette Murphy, Niles; and a sister, Mrs. Carrie Wittner, South Bend.
    Nephews will act as pallbearers.

Niles Daily Star, Monday, May 17, 1948, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library.

Brickel, Anna M. (Garlanger)

Anna M. Brickel
Dec. 11, 1869-May 14, 1948


Anna M. Brickel Dies

    Mrs. Anna Mabel Brickel, 78, 47 South Fourth street, died at 7 p.m. Friday at her residence following a two months illness.  
    Last rites will be conducted 4 p.m. Monday at the Kiger funeral home with the Rev. L. George Beacock officiating. Interment will be in Silverbrook cemetery.  Friends may call at the funeral home.
    Mrs. Brickel was born in St. Joseph Dec. 11, 1869, and moved to Niles when a child. She spent her lifetime here. She was a membr[sic] of the First Mthodist[sic] church, and a member of the Woman's Soicety[sic] Christian Service of the church.
She taught the Berean class many years.
    She is survived by her husband, Marion S. Brickel, and a brother, E.E. Garlanger, Niles.

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, May 15, 1948, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library.

Bonfoey, Ferne H. (Gilmore)

Ferne Bonfoey
June 13, 1897-May 14, 1948


FERNE  BONFOEY RITES

    Services for Mrs. Ferne H. Bongoey, 50, will be held 2 p.m. Monday at the Kiger funeral home.  Dr. Guy W. Simon will officiate.
    Mrs. Bonfoey died 10:30 a.m. Friday at her residence, 1122 North Sixth street, after a four months illness.
    Members of the GIA are requested to meet 1:45 p.m. Monday at the funeral home to attend the rites for Mrs. Bonfoey.
    She was born June 13, 1897 in Goodwine, Ill. She came here from North Judson, Ind., in 1937 and has been a resident since. Mrs. Bonfoey was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and the GIA.
    Survivors include her husband, Lee, and the following stepchildren: Carl Bonfoey, Tacoma, Wash., John Bonfoey, and Lee J. Bonfoey, both of Benton Harbor, Mrs. Barton Dawson, Chicago, Mrs. I.E. Baushke, Benton Harbor; a niece, Mrs. H.E. Woodworth, Niles; a sister, Mrs. George Harmison, Niles; a twin-brother, Forrest Gilmore, and another brother, Arnold Gilmore, both of North Judson.

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, May 15, 1948, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library.

Wellington, Ervine H.

Ervine H. Wellington
March 31, 1893-July 9, 1966

    Ervine H. Wellington, 73, of 2511 S. 3rd St., died at 12:30 a.m. this morning in Pawating Hospital where he had been a patient one week. Mr. Wellington had been ill for three years.
    His widow, Leora, survives as does their daughter, Mrs. LaMar Phend, Osceola, Ind.  four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren also survive.
    Mr. Wellingotn was born March 31, 1893, in Detroit.  He married the former Leora N. Schallock in Detroit July 5, 1919.
    He had resided in Niles since 1933.
    Mr. Wellington was a retired tool and die maker at Lock Joint Tube Company. He was veteran of World War I.
    Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday at the Halbritter-Swem Funeral Home. The Rev. Vincent J. Anderson, minister of Trinity Episcopal Church will officiate.
    Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home Sunday afternoon.

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, July 9, 1966, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Steinbauer, Dorothy M. (Martin)

Dorothy M. Steinbauer
Feb. 6, 1902-May 11, 1998

    Funeral services for Dorothy M. Steinbauer, 96, 404 1/2 West Main St., Niles, are Friday at 11 a.m. at Grace United Methodist Church, Niles, by Dr. Glenn McNiel of the church.  Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.
    Mrs. Steinbauer died Monday at 9:15 a.m. at home of natural causes.
    She was born Feb. 6, 1902 in Niles and had lived here most of her life.
    Mrs. Steinbauer was a lifetime member of Grace United Methodist Church, Niles, where she was a Sunday school teacher.  She was dedicated to her church, and her family was her life.
    She retired in 1967 after approximately 20 years of service with French Paper Co., Niles.
    Survivors include a son, David L. Steinbauer of Granger, Ind., three granddaughters, Dana Marrs of Niles, Lori Burke of McKinney, Texas, and Paula Davis of Scottsdale, Ariz.; two grandsons, David Steinbauer Jr. of Plano, Texas and Dennis Steinbauer of Scottsdale; seven great-grandchildren; and a sister, Amy Rowley of Kalamazoo.
    She was preceded in death by a son, Carl "Ted" Steinbauer in 1984; and two brothers, Carl F. Martin and Walter Martin.
    Friends may call Thursday from 6 until 8 p.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home. in Niles.
    Memorial contributions may be made to Grace United Methodist Church in Niles or Hospice at Home.

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, May 12, 1998, page 2, col. 2-3, microfilm Niles District Library


Moore, Sondra Lee (McKeel)

Sondra Lee Moore
Sept. 3, 1938-May 10, 1998

    Funeral services for Sondra Lee Moore, 59, 929 S. Third St., Niles are Wednesday at 1 p.m. at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home in Niles by the Rev. Nolan Williams of Wesley United Methodist Church.
    Mrs. Moore died Sunday at 2:30 a.m. at home of natural causes.
    She was born Sept. 3, 1938 in Buchanan.
    In 1973 in Niles, she married Robert Moore, who survives.
    Mrs. Moore worked in administration at Silverbroook Manor in Niles.  She was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church in Niles, a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Niles Elks Lodge, and Ladies Auxiliary of the Niles Eagles Lodge.
    Survivors include a daughter, Christina Vogelsang of Clarksville, Tenn.; two sons, Charles Vogelsang of Clarksville and Craig Vogelsang of Niles; five grandchildren; her mother, Winona Raven of Niles, four sisters, Jeanne Sherman of Venice, Fla., Marian Mattson of Vero Beach, Fla., Charlene Ridenhour of South Bend, and Sherry Noland of Niles; two brothers, Robert McKeel of Cassopolis and Edward McKeel of Niles; and four step-sons, Mark Moore of Park Hall, Md., Randall Moore of Jacksonville, Fla., and Jeffrey and Christopher Moore, both of Niles.
    Friends may call Tuesday 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
    Memorial contributions may be made to the Drug Awareness Program through the Niles Elks Lodge.

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, May 12, 1998, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Olvera, Amy Faye (Rhea)

Amy Faye Olvera
April 5, 1959-May 4, 1998


    Funeral services for Amy Faye Olvera, 39, 1427 Sioux Trail, Niles, are Thursday at 2 p.m.  at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, by the Rev. Dr. Ronald H. Wakeman of the First Presbyterian Church. Burial will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.
    Mrs. Olvera died Monday at 9:15 p.m. at Memorial Hospital, South Bend, Ind. following a brief illness.
    She was born April 5, 1959 in Knoxville, Tenn., and had lived in Niles for two years, coming from Knoxville.
    On Jan. 8, 1982 in Knoxville, she married John R. Olvera, who survives.
    Mrs. Olvera received a bachelor of arts in music performance in 1981 from Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill.; and received a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering from the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee in 1987.
    She was a professional oboist and formerly performed with the Oak Ridge Symphony and Knoxville Symphony Orchestras: and was a member of Pi Tau Sigma National Honorary Mechanical Engineering Fraternity.
    Mrs. Olvera was currently employed as an engineer at the Donald C. Cook Nuclear Power Plant.
    Survivors include a son, Ian James Olvera, at home; her father, James R. Rhea of Knoxville; a sister, Mary Lynn Lucas of Knoxville; and a brother, Lauren Jackson Rhea of Hamilton, Ala.  She was preceded in death by a daughter, Anastasia Claire Olvera, who died in infancy in 1996; and her mother, Annalynn Rhea in May of 1993.  Friends may call Thursday from noon until 2 p.m. at the funeral home.
    Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association.


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, May 6, 1998, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library