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.

Cheney, Martha R.

Martha R. Cheney
March 9, 1929-June 20, 1997

NILES -- Martha Ruth Cheney, 68, of 911 S. 3rd St., died Friday in Silverbrook Manor Nursing Home. Survivors include four daughters, Cora Lolmaugh, Jeanne Baldwin and Cheryl Noble, all of Niles and Debra Rosetto of Tucson, Ariz.; and five sons, Leonard Jr. of Minneapolis, Walter Sr., Michael and Patrick, all of Niles; and Kevin of Indiana. Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Halbritter Funeral Home, where friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown 

Childress, Ethel Mae

Ethel Mae Childress
March 30, 1912-March 27, 1994

NILES - Ethel Mae Childress, 81, of 1333 Wells St., died at 8:36 a.m. Sunday in Pawating Hospital after an illness. Mrs. Childress was born March 30, 1912. In August 1935, she married John W. Childress. He died in 1957. Surviving are two sisters, Bennie Brown of Gulf Cove, Fla., and Margaret Branch of Memphis, Tenn.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in St. Mary Catholic Church. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call after 10 a.m. Wednesday in Halbritter Funeral Home.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown 

Clark, Anne

Anne M. Clark
Nov. 3, 1917-April 1, 1996

NILES - Anne M. Clark, 78, of 2330 E. Main St., died at 8:58 a.m. Monday in Lakeland Medical Center-Niles after an illness. Mrs. Clark was formerly employed at Pawating Hospital, assisting Dr. Cilella. She was also a librarian at the former Central High School in Niles. She was born Nov. 3, 1917, in Elkhart. On June 25, 1938, in Niles, she married Leo Everett Clark. He died Oct. 14, 1969. Surviving are a grandson, Timothy Paul Clark of Niles; a daughter-in-law, Paulette Clark, who took care of her; and a sister, Betty Topash of Niles. A son, Leo ''Tim'' E. Jr., died Nov. 12, 1978. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church and attended Westminister Presbyterian Church.

There will be no services or visitation. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Halbritter Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

 

Clark, Patricia S. (McBride)

Patricia S. Clark
March 8, 1930 - April 21, 2006

Patricia Sarah Clark, born March 8, 1930, in Niles, Michigan, to Ray and Alma McBride, passed away on April 21, 2006, in West Palm Beach, Fla.

She operated a beauty salon, Pat's Powder Puff, in Niles, for several years and was a member of St. Mark's Catholic Church.

After moving to Florida in 1977, she was employed by Bank of South Palm Beach and was currently working for Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation.

She was preceded in death by her daughter, Robin Van Tuyl Olinghouse.

She is survived by two daughters, Rolanda (Paul) Crawford of Palm Springs, Fla., and Rochelle (Joe) Bokhart of Florida. She is also survived by six grandchildren, Sgt. Ryan Olinghouse of Fort Lewis, Washington, Stacy Olinghouse Frick of Jenison, Michigan, Shawn and Bridget Bokhart and Samantha and Kyle Crawford, all of Florida. She is also survived by two sisters, Margaret McBride and Betty DePoy, both of Niles.

Cremation has already taken place and the family will conduct graveside services at Silverbrook Cemetery at a later date.

 

Chadwell, Francis W.

Francis W. Chadwell
June 26, 1932-Feb. 24, 1995

SOUTH BEND - Francis W. Chadwell, 62, of 1110 W. Bryan St., died at 4:50 a.m. today in St. Joseph's Medical Center of natural causes. Mr. Chadwell retired in 1983 from Bendix Corp. He was born June 26, 1932, in South Bend. On June 27, 1987, in Buchanan, he married J. Mabelene Brasfield. She survives with three daughters, Pam Myers and Shelly Bobo, both of Mishawaka, and Linda Weist of South Bend; a son, Gary of South Bend; three stepdaughters, Glenda Foster of Buchanan, Janice Boyer of Ann Arbor and Kathy Johnson of Niles; two stepsons, Jim Johnson of Niles and Larry Johnson of Buchanan; 17 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Evelyn Rogers of Louisburg, N.C., and Verna Mayo of Fayetteville, N.C. He was a member of AmVets, Niles.

Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday in Pifer-Smith Funeral Home, Niles. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday in the funeral home.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

 

Cates, Richard E.

Richard E. Cates Sr.
Jan. 23, 1907 -- Feb. 20, 2004

Richard E. Cates, 97, of 73920 CR 376, Covert, Mich., passed away Friday, Feb. 20, in South Haven Health Care Center following an illness.

He was born in Danville, Ill. on Jan. 23, 1907 to Michael F. & Alberta (Jessup) Cates, who preceded him in death. He was also preceded in death by a daughter, Darlene Cates and his wife, Edna.

Richard married Edna (Chandonia) on Oct. 27, 1933 in a ceremony in South Bend, Ind. The couple enjoyed 71 years together before her passing in July of 2001.

He retired from AM General after many years of service. Spending time with his family and eating out for lunch were Richard's favorite pastimes.

Survivors include five sons, Richard Jr. and Irene Cates of South Haven, Mich., Dean and Dee Cates of Mishawaka, Ind., Don and Ruby Cates of Evansville, Ind., Derrel and Carol Cates of Bremen, Ind., Dennis Cates of Muskegon, Mich.; one daughter, Diane Cates of Texas; twenty-four grandchildren and over 40 great and great--great grandchildren.

Services will be held Tuesday, Feb. 24, at 11 a.m. in Pifer-SMITH Funeral Home in Niles with visitation one hour prior. Interment will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Memorial contributions can be made to a charity of one's choice.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Pifer--SMITH Funeral Home, 521 E. Main St. Niles, MI 49120.

Casper, Elaine M.

Elaine M. Casper
Nov. 21, 1941 - Dec. 2, 1999

Elaine Casper, 58, of Yuma, Ariz., passed away on Thursday, Dec. 2.

She was the oldest daughter of Irwin and Cornelia Ashbrook of Niles, Mich. She was preceded in death by her mother and father, and by a daughter, Cammy Jo.

She is survived by her husband, Robert Casper of Yuma; two sons, Kerry (Mary) Noble and Nathan (Kathy) Noble; six grandchildren, Missey, Lauren, Lindsey, Megan and Michael, all of Marquette, Mich., and Nicole (Justin) Thompson of Escanaba, Mich.; and by a sister, Marty Waterbury of Niles.

Cremation has taken place and burial will be with her baby daughter on Saturday, Dec. 18, at Silverbrook Cemetery

Submitted by family member; publication detail unknown