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.

Swarthout, Winifred Ann

Winifred Ann Swarthout
April 27, 1906-Dec. 17, 1997


Niles Daily Star, Thursday, December 18,1997, page 2, col. 3-5, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Winifred Ann Swarthout, 91, Fountainview Retirement Village, Buchanan, formerly of 611 Topinabee Road, Niles, are Friday at 1:30 p.m., at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home, Niles. Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Mrs. Swarthout died Wednesday at 3:56 a.m., at Lakeland Medical Center, Niles, of natural causes.

She was born April 27, 1906, in Auburn.

On July 24, 1928, in Bay City, she married Earl J. Swarthout, who preceded her in death July 3, 1981.

Mrs. Swarthout was a retired independent school photographer. She was a member of the What So Ever Class of the First Presbyterian Church, Niles, where she was a member; former president of Electrostatic Manufacturing Co., Niles; former owner-operator of Ready Beauty Shop and Oak Street Beauty Shop, both in Niles.

Survivors include a son, E. Jack Swarthout of Paris, Ill.; two grandchildren; a sister, Emily Bast of Manitowoc, Wis., and a brother, Clarence F. Doty of Beaverton.

Friends may call today from 2 until 4 pm. and 6 until 8 p.m. at the funeral home.

 

 

 

 

Sweet, Effie J.

Effie J. Sweet
Dec. 27 1883-Feb. 17, 1954


Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, February 17, 1954, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

 

Mrs. Effie J. Sweet, who made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Kenneth Taylor, rural route six, South Bend, died at 12:50 a.m. today in the Taylor home. She had been in ill health for three years.

Surviving are her husband, Carl W. Sweet, of Niles; three daughters, Mrs. Taylor, of South Bend, Mrs. Avery Stone, of Niles, and Mrs. Howard Edwards, of LaGrange, Ill.; one son, Edward Sweet, of Reed City; five grandchildren, and one sister, Mrs. Edwin Lambert, of Gary, Ind.

Mrs. Sweet was born on Dec. 27, 1883, in Michigan City, Ind., and had lived in Niles for 31 years.

Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home, where services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, with the Rev. L. George Beacock, Methodist pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

 

 

 

Zacharski, Ashley Kelly

Ashley Kelly Zacharski
Jan. 18, 1990-Jan. 18, 1990


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, January 20, 1990, page 2, col. 1-2, microfilm Niles District Library

A family graveside service for Ashley Kelly Zacharski, the daughter of Gerard "Gerry" Zacharski and Sharon Kelly, 132 Beeson Road, Niles, are Tuesday at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles by the Rev. Steven Howarth of Edwardsburg Presbyterian Church.

The infant was stillborn at birth Thursday at 3:01 a.m. at Elkhart General Hospital, Elkhart, Ind.

Survivors include her parents; maternal grandmother, Mary Kelly of Clarklake; and paternal grandparents Marjorie and Joseph Zacharski of Port Saint Lucie, Fla.

There will be no visitation. Halbritter Funeral Home of Niles was in charge of arrangements.

Friends may send memorial contributions to the March of Dimes Southern Tier Chapter, 415 West Maple, Kalamazoo, MI 49001.

 

Parmenter, Margaret

Margaret Parmenter
May 2, 1863-Jan. 21, 1953

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, January 21, 1953, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library


Miss Margaret Parmenter, 89 of 1009 Regent street, died at 6:00 a.m. today at Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo after a three-month illness.

Miss Parmenter was born here on May 2, 1863, and was a life-long resident of the city. She was a clerk in the Quimby Dry Goods Store for many years and was an active member of the Baptist Church all her life.

Surviving are two sisters, Mrs. Lillian Beaudry of South Bend and Sister M. Euphemia of Nazareth Convent, Kalamazoo.

Friends may call at the Kiger Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday at the First Baptist Church with the Rev. Ray L. McCoy, pastor, officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

 

Shoemaker, O.A.

O.A. Shoemaker
Sept. 9, 1877-Jan. 20, 1953


Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, January 21, 1953, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library


Services for O.A. "Shoey" Shoemaker, 407 Brookfield avenue, who died at 10:15 a.m. Tuesday in his home, have been set at 2 p.m. Friday at the Pifer Funeral Home.

Shoemaker is survived by his widow, Fern; one son, Robert, Magician Lake, and two grandchildren. He was born in Ohio on Sept. 9, 1877, and came to Niles from there 30 years ago. He was retired.

Friends may call at the funeral home.  The Rev. L. George Beacock, Methodist pastor, will preside during the services, and burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

 

Snouwaert, Sarah K.

Sarah K. Snouwaert
June 6, 1874-Jan. 20, 1953


Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, January 21, 1953, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

MRS. CHARLES SNOUWAERT

Mrs. Sarah K. Snouwaert, 78, of 109 South Fourteenth street, died at 6:15 p.m. Tuesday at Pawating Hospital after an illness of three weeks.

She was born in Holland on June 6, 1874, and came here from Attica, Ind., 44 years ago.

Surviving are: her husband; one son, Henry of Niles; three daughters, Mrs. Frank Reynolds of Dowagiac, Mrs. Mead Burton of Niles and Mrs. Glenn Redding of Galien; two brothers, four sisters; 18 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Friends may call at the Kiger Funeral home where services will be held at 3:30 p.m. Friday. The Rev. L. George Beacock, pastor of First Methodist Church, will officiate and burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

 

Jones, Jessie

Jessie Jones
Oct. 21, 1889-Feb. 1, 1990


Niles Daily Star, Thursday, February 1, 1990, page 2, col. 3-4, microfilm Niles District Library


Services for Jessie Jones, 100, of 3138 U.S. 33 North, Niles, are at 2 p.m., Saturday, at Halbritter Funeral Home by the Rev. John R. Halbert of the Franklin A.M.E. Church.

Burial follows at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

She died at 1:45 p.m., Wednesday, at Woodfield Manor following a brief illness.

Mrs. Jones was affiliated with the Franklin A.M.E. Church.

She was born Oct. 21, 1889, in Hot Springs, Ark., and had lived in Niles since 1935, coming from Chicago.

She was married to Ernest Jones, who preceded her in death Oct. 11, 1969.

Survivors include grandsons, Richard A. Jones and John L. Jones, Jr., both of Niles, and Jeffery S. Jones of South Haven; four great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Preceding her in dieath Nov. 6, 1989, was her son, John L. Jones, Sr.

Friends may call one hour before the service at Halbritter Funeral Home.