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.

Ray, Clara

Mrs. Clara Ray
April 9, 1891-October 23, 1954


    Mrs. Clara Ray, 63, of 1332 Eagle street, died at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at the home of her son, Edwin Ray, Kokomo, Ind., following an illness of two years.
    Mrs. Ray was born April 9, 1891, in Michigan City, Ind., and came to Niles in 1919.  She was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church.
    Surviving besides her son are: her husband, Norman; her stepmother, Mrs. Polly Trunk, Michigan City; a daughter, Mrs. Peter Ciula, South Bend; six grandchildren; one great grandchild, and three brothers, Frank, Carl and Ollie Trunk, all of Michigan City.
    Funeral services will be held at 9 a.m. Tuesday in St. Mary's Catholic Church with the Rev. Cletus Rose, pastor, officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. The Rosary will be recited at 7:30 p.m today at the Kiger Funeral Home here, where friends may call.

(Source: Niles Daily Star, Monday, October 25, 1954, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Johnson, Robert F.

Robert F. Johnson
March 30, 1918-February 11, 1983


Robert F. Johnson, 64, of 5858 Sheridan Rd., Chicago, Ill., died suddenly at 5:15 p.m. Friday at Henrotin Hospital in Chicago.
He was born on March 30, 1918 in Niles and had lived in the area all of his life. He was the Assistant Manager of the North Shore Hilton in Skokie, Ill. and was a Veteran of WW II with the rank of Captain in the US Army. He is survived by a sister, Mrs. Charles (Barbara) Ray of South Bend.
Services will be held at 11 a.m.  Wednesday at the Halbritter Funeral Home with Rev. Mark D. Graham of Wesley United Methodist Church officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.  Friends may call from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Tuesday at the Halbritter Funeral Home.  Memorials may be given to the Wesley United Methodist Church Memorial Fund.

(Source: Niles Daily Star, Monday, February 14, 1983, page 2, col. 5-6, microfilm Niles District Library)

Carter, Otto G.

Otto G. Carter
November 17, 1918-February 13, 1983


    Otto G. Carter, 64, of 2457 US-12 E., Niles, died at 5:45 p.m. Sunday at Pawating Hospital after an extended illness.
    He was born on November 17, 1918 in Adophos, Kentucky and came to the area in 1954 from Pollard, Ark.  He was retired from the French Paper Co. and the Niles Community Schools.
    On December 13, 1937 he married Edith E. Harmon in Piggott, Ark.  His wife survives.  He is also survived by a son, Dewayne Carter of Niles and a daughter, Mrs. Celestino (Geraldine) Echevarria of Niles.  A brother, Realus Carter of Rockford, Ill. also survives along with six grandchildren.
    Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Halbritter Funeral Home with the Rev. Arnold O. Schaap of Edwardsburg officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.  Friends may call from 2-4 and 7-9 Tuesday at Halbritter Funeral Home.  Memorials may be given to Ring Lardner School Library.

(Source: Niles Daily Star, Monday, February 14, 1983, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library)

Fuller, Anna Belle (Rosenberger)

Anna Belle Fuller
June 15, 1918-February 19, 2002


Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, February 20, 2002, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

    Anna Belle Fuller, 83, of Matthew Road, Niles, died at 1:15 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 19 at West Woods of Niles, following an extended illness.  Arrangements are pending and are being completed by Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, February 23, 2002, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

    Graveside funeral services for Anna B. Fuller, 83, of 113 Mathew Road, Niles will be Wednesday, Feb. 27 at 1 p.m .at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.  Pastor Thomas Clabaugh of Huntly Memorial Baptist Church will be officiating.
    Fuller died Tuesday, Feb. 19 at 1:15 at West Woods of Niles, following an extended illness.
    Fuller was born June 15, 1918 in Bertrand to Byron Edgar Rosenberger and Alva Mae Shook. She lived in Bertrand most of her life.  She moved to Alabama in 1986, but returned to the area in 1992.  On March 19, 1935, she married Lloyd A. Meyers. On November 20, 1950, she married William T. Fuller in St. Joseph.  He preceded her in death on Oct. 16, 1990.  She had been employed by businesses local to Bertrand, including Shula's and the former Dixie Villa Motel.  She had also been employed by Howard Johnson of Roseland, Ind.
    Survivors include: three daughters, Jeannette Geer of Del Valle, Texas, Carol Compoe of Niles, and Shirley O'Bren of South Bend; eight grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and one sister, E. Mae Roberts, of Niles.
    She was also preceded in death by one son, Lloyd Meyers, Jr., who died Jan. 24, 1948, and one brother, Edgar Rosenberger, who died Dec. 24, 1990.
    There will be no visitation.
    Memorial contributions may be made to ten Niles Community Library.
    Arrangements were made at Halbritter Funeral Home.

Lochinaw, Lydia Marie (Radewald)

Lydia Marie Lochinaw
March 12, 1888-February 11, 1983


    Lydia Marie Lochinaw, 94, 540 Cedar, died at 7:45 a.m. Friday at Pawating Hospital after a brief illness.
    She was a member of St. John's United Church of Christ, the Women's Fellowship of the church, a volunteer worker at the Berrien County Cancer Service and a retired cook with Niles Community Schools and Farming.
    Born March 12, 1888, in St. Joseph, she was a lifelong resident. On Oct. 19, 1941, in Niles, she married Frederick L. Lochinaw, who died Aug. 27, 1946.
    Surviving are two sisters, Mrs. Edna E. Knott and Mrs. Millie L. Foster, both of Niles, and two stepdaughters, Alice Forbes of Berrien Center and Dorothy Swanstra of Lakeland, Fla.
    Services will be 2 p.m. Monday at St. John's United Church of Christ with Rev. Frederick S. West of St. John's United Church of Christ officiating.   Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.  Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at Halbritter Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to her church.  Arrangements are being completed by Halbritter Funeral Home.

(Source: Niles Daily Star, Saturday, February 12, 1983, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library)

Quick, Joseph

Joseph Quick
Died March 16, 1932

DEATH JOSEPH QUICK

    Word was received by Niles relatives today of the death of Joseph Quick, formerly of Niles, in Chicago.  The body will be brought to Niles tomorrow afternoon on a Michigan Central train due at 3:30 and will be taken directly to Silverbrook cemetery for burial in the family lot where the wife of the deceased, Mrs. Annie Smith Quick is buried.  Mr. Quick when a resident of Niles, was foreman in the William A. Reddick factory.  He is survived by two sons and a daughter who are Harvey and Norman Quick and Mrs. Flossie Smyth, all of Chicago.  Mrs. Quick was a sister of Major Smith, and also a sister of Mrs. George Dittmar, deceased.

(Source:  Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, March 16, 1932, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library)

    The body of Joseph Quick, a former resident of Niles, was brought to Niles this afternoon from Chicago and was taken directly from the Michigan Central depot to Silverbrook cemetery where burial was made.

(Source:  Niles Daily Star, Thursday, March 17, 1932, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library)

Curtis, Ellsworth "Culley"

Elsworth Curtis
Died March 15, 1932


DEATH OF "CULLEY" CURTIS

    Elsworth Curtis, 68, better known as "Culley" Curtis, died last evening in the Berrien County infirmary in Berrien Center.  He was a son of John and Lucinda Curtis, of Niles.  He was born in Niles and grew to manhood here.  For many years he was a waiter on Michigan Central and Illinois Central railroad trains.  He had been in ill health for several years.  More than a year ago Mr. Curtis moved to Dowagiac.  He is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Freda Harrod, of Detroit, and Mrs. Amey Belle C. Woods, of Niles.  The deceased was a member of the Second Baptist church.  The funeral services will be held on Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock in the Troost and Augustine chapel.  The Rev. Nelson, pastor of the Second Baptist church, will officiate.  Burial will be made in Silverbrook Cemetery.

(Source: Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, March 16, 1932, page 4 col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library)

Funerals

    The funeral services for Ellsworth "Culley" Curtis will be conducted in the Troost & Augustine chapel tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock.  The Rev. Nelson, pastor of the A.M.E. church, will officiate.  Burial will be made in Silverbrook cemetery.

(Source: Niles Daily Star, Thursday, March 17, 1932, page 4 col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library