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.

Hibbard, Robert Warren

Robert W. Hibbard
June 16, 1926-Oct. 8, 1981

Robert W. Hibbard succumbs at age 55. 

Robert Warren Hibbard, 55, of 1325 Sheffield St., superintendent of the Niles Street Department, died at 2:40 p.m. Tuesday in Pawating Hospital in Niles following a brief illness.

Niles Mayor Larry Clymer said the flags at city Hall and the police and fire department buildings will be flown at half mast today and Thursday in honor of Hibbard who had worked for the city for 31 years.  Niles City Engineer Arthur Reed, Hibbards supervisor said, “He was a long and faithful employee, 31 years, including eight of them as street superintendent. He was a dedicated individual who performed a vital service to the community. He always cared about Niles and did his best”.

Mr. Hibbard was born on June 16, 1926 in Dowagiac and had been a lifetime resident of this area.  He was a veteran of World War II and was member of the Disabled American veterans.

He married Carolyn Morehouse in Niles on Dec. 7, 1946. His wife survives.  Also surviving are two daughters, Carolyn Gail Hibbard of Holland and Carol Ann Hibbard of Watertown, MA; his mother, Myrtle Paskel Hibbard of Niles; two brothers, George of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and William Hibbard of Niles; and two sisters, Mrs. Bessie Green of Niles and Beatrice Hibbard of Arlington, Va.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday in the Pifer-Smith Funeral Home. The Rev. Mark D. Graham of Wesley United Methodist church will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.Friends may call form 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday in the Pifer –Smith Funeral Home. The family suggests memorials may be made to the Michigan Heart Association. 

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown. 

Hibberd, Robert Lee

Robert Lee Hibberd*
Sept. 23, 1913-June 22, 1972

Niles Daily Star, Friday, June 23, 1972, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles – Robert Lee Hibbard, 58, of 914 Tomahawk Ln., died at 7:50 p.m. Thursday in Pawating Hospital, after an illness of one day.

An employee of the Clark Equipment Co., Mr. Hibbard was born Sept. 23, 1913, in Summittville, Tenn., and had lived in this area all his life. On Dec. 31, 1942, in Medford, Ore., he married the former Evelyn M. Moyer, who survives. He was a veteran of World War II, with the U.S. Army.

Additional survivors include a daughter, Mrs. Richard (Gwendolyn) Cater of Elkhart, Ind.; two brothers, Grant Hibbard and William Hibbard, both of Niles; three sisters Mrs. Gertrude Walker and Mrs. Ann Stahl, both of Niles, Mrs. Edna Schutt of Elkhart; two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday in the Halbritter funeral Home, with the Rev. Donald Cozadd of the Grace United Methodist church officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call beginning Sunday at the funeral home.

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, June 24, 1972, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles--The name of Robert Lee Hibberd was spelled incorrectly in an obituary Friday in The Star. Mr. Hibberd, 58, of 914 Tomahawk Ln., died Thursday. He was a Clark Equipment Co. employe.

Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Mrs. Richard (Gwendolyn) Cater of Elkhart, two brothers and three sisters.  Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at the Halbritter Funeral Home, where friends may call beginning Sunday.

 

 


Hibbard, George

George Hibbard
March 8,1939-April 7, 1941

Death takes infant son of Mr. and Mrs. George Hibbard

George Edward Hibbard, two year old son, of Mr. and Mrs. George Hibbard, 1518 Clarendon Avenue, died at 2:15 Sunday morning in Pawating hospital. He had been ill four days of complication after an appendix rupture.

The child was born in Niles, March 8, 1939. Mrs. Hibbard is the former Dorothy Ausmus. Beside the parents he leaves a sister, Joan, 5, and his grandparents, Mrs. and Mrs. George L. Ausmus and Mrs. Myrtle Hibbard, all of Niles. Friends may call at the Hibbard home until the service at 2:30 Tuesday afternoon in the Rutherford Funeral Home. The Rev. Guy W. Simon will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown.

Hibbard, Elizabeth Mae (Miltenberger)

Elizabeth Mae Hibbard
Nov. 15, 1924-Oct. 29, 1994

Funeral services for Elizabeth Mae Hibbard, 69, of 911 S. Third St., Niles, are Monday  Oct. 29, 1994, at 2 p.m. in Hoven Funeral Home by Pastor Terry Peer of the Buchanan Church of Christ.Cremation will follow.

She was born Nov. 15, 1924, in Niles, where she lived her lifetime.  Mrs. Hibbard was a homemaker. She was a member of the American Legion Women’s Auxiliary No. 26 in Niles.

Survivors include two sons, Robert Hibbard and John Hibbard, both of Niles; a brother, Robert Miltenberger of Niles, eight grandchildren and a great-grandchild.  Friends may call from 10 a.m. until time of services at the funeral home.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown. 

Hibbard, Ada

Mrs. Ada Hibbard, 1120 Sycamore Street, died at 10 a.m. today in Pawating hospital. She had been in poor health for four years.Surviving children are Mrs. Gertrude Walker, Mrs. James Stahl, Grant, Bill and Robert Hibbard, all of Niles and Mrs. Keith Schutt of Elkhart, Ind. also surviving are eight grandchildren; five sisters, Miss Mollie Meara of Manchester, Tenn, Mrs. Robert Gaither of Nashville, Tenn., Mrs. D. Leatherwood of Dallas, Tex, Mrs. Robert Sheldon and Mrs. L.D. Livingston, both of Niles and a brother, Brown Mears of Dallas.Mrs. Hibbard was born in Woodmiry, Tenn, on Nov. 28, 1881 and came her from Summitville, Tenn. In 1927Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced tomorrow.

Hessey, Lisa A.

Lisa Ann Hessey
Jan. 4, 1975-Dec. 10, 1996

Lisa Ann Hessey, 21, of 317 Rue Gauguin St., South Bend, Ind., died at 5:55 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10, 1996, at Hospice House, South Bend, following an extended illness.

She was born Jan. 4, 1975, in Niles, Mich., to Thomas Charles and Debra Diane Holy Hessey, and lived in Niles until recently moving to South Bend.

Lisa was a student of Indiana University South Bend. She graduated in 1993 from Brandywine High School, where she participated in cheerleading and instrumental music. She was a former employee of the Prime Table Restaurant, Niles, and more recently of Market Strategies, South Bend.

She is survived by her parents, Thomas and Debra Hessey of Niles; a sister, Deanna Hessey of Niles; her fiance, Javier Garcia Abarca of South Bend; grandparents, Donald and Mary Lou Hessey and Robert and Vera Holy, all of Niles; and a great-grandmother, Kathleen Smith of Niles.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 13, at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, with Rev. Scott Goodman of First Baptist Church, officiating. Interment will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. today in the funeral home.

Contributions in memory of Lisa may be made to Hospice of St. Joseph County Inc., or the Berrien County Cancer Service.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown.

Hess, John A.

John A. Hess 
August 13, 1857-June 8, 1924

Death Claims Well Known Citizen. 

John A. Hess, 903 N. Fifth St., died about midnight last evening (June 8, 1924) after a prolonged illness with heart disease. 

Mr. Hess was born in Waterloo, Canada, August 13, 1857.  He moved to Niles from a farm near Buchanan about 15 years ago and had since resided her. After coming to Niles be successfully engaged in the carpenter business.

Mr. Hess is survived by four brothers, George, William, Charles and Henry all of Buchanan and by three sisters, Mrs. Catherine Eisele, Niles, Mrs. Lizzie Adams, Michigan City, Mrs. Carrie Boyle of Niles.

The funeral services will be held Thursday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the home. Rev. H. T. Scherer, pastor of the Presbyterian Church of which Mrs. Hess was a member, will officiate. Burial will take place in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Mrs. Hess whose maiden name was Catherine Pfeil died eight months ago. Since that time Mrs. Hess niece, Mrs. Edward Hahn and her husband, have made their home with Mr. Hess.  Mr. Hess was a highly esteemed citizen and many mourn his death.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown.