Pauline Helen Gross
May 1, 1929-April 29, 1930

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Tuesday, April 29, 1930, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief: DEATH OF BABY GROSS

Funeral services for the daughter, age 11 months, of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Gross, who died this morning at their home in Howard township, will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock in the Troost and Augustine chapel. The Rev. W. Keith Chidister, rector of Trinity Episcopal church, will officiate. Burial will be made in Silver Brook cemetery. Mr. Gross formerly lived at Third and Pokagon streets in Niles.

Mary Parker Freeier
Aug. 14 1853-May 1, 1930

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Friday, May 2, 1930, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief: DEATH MRS. FREERER

Mrs. Mary Parker Freerer, 70, a pioneer resident of Niles died last evening at Pawating hospital where she was taken two weeks ago suffering with stroke of paralysis having been found soon after she was stricken at her home 21 Ferry street, the house in which she was born and where she had lived during her entire life time until she was stricken. When she was a young woman her father was accidentally drowned in the St. Joseph river near their home. Mrs. Freerer loved flowers and for many years the beauty and the variety of the flowers in her garden, so long as her health permitted her to attend to them has been a source of admiration to many, and she was generous in her distribution of them. The funeral services will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2:30 in the Rutherford Funeral Home. Burial will be made in Silver Brook cemetery.

Infant Rupe
March 19, 1930-March 19, 1930

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Thursday, March 20, 1930, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief: DEATH INFANT RUPE

Funeral services for the son born yesterday to Mr. and Mrs. Byron Rupe will be held tomorrow morning at 2 o'clock in the Troost and Augustine chapel. The Rev. O.P. Miles, pastor of the First Baptist church will officiate. Burial will be made in Silver Brook cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. Rupe reside on the former Ed. Bair farm near the city electric light plant.

Hattie Parsons Randall
1845-April 28, 1930

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Tuesday, April 29, 1930, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief: DEATH MRS. EDSON RANDALL

Mrs. Hattie Parsons Randall, widow of Edson Randall, a former resident of Niles, died last evening at the home in Dowagiac where she had been receiving care after being released from Lee Sanitarium where she was a patient for a month. Mr. Randall was a brother of Mrs. Stanley Collins of Niles. He died eight years ago. He was twice married his first wife having been Nettie Charles of Niles. Funeral services for Mrs. Randall will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock in her home in Dowagiac. The body will be brought to Niles for burial this afternoon to complete arrangements for the funeral and will attend the services there and the committal services here tomorrow. Mrs. Randall was possibly 85 years of age. She was brought to Niles directly after the death of both her parents from cholera when that disease swept Chicago in an early day. She grew to young womanhood here but for many years she as lived in Dowagiac. No relatives are known to survive. A daughter of Mr. Randall, Mrs. Edna Randall Hawks is a teacher in a normal college in Pullman, Wash.

Judith Costner-Hecht, of Union
July 25, 1950-Nov. 11, 2020

Niles Daily Star, Published 1:44 pm Friday, November 13, 2020

Judith Costner-Hecht, 70, of Union, passed Nov. 11, 2020. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. with visitation one hour prior on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2020, at Brown Funeral Home. BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com.

Published at https://brownfuneralhomeniles.com/tribute/details/2968/Judith-Costner-Hecht/obituary.html

Obituary of Judith Ann Costner-Hecht

Judith Ann Costner-Hecht, 70, of Union, Michigan passed away at IU Health University Hospital in Indianapolis on Wednesday, November 11, 2020. Judy was born on July 25, 1950, to Harry and Sadie (Fleeman) Kincaid in Manilla, Arkansas where she grew up as one of four children. In February of 2018 Judy wed Michael Hecht in Cassopolis. Judy loved to travel, ride on her motorcycle, visit family and friends, collecting dolls, and shopping. She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Ruthie Kincaid. Judy is survived by her husband, Michael Hecht of Union, Michigan; children, Terry Costner of Ligonier, Indiana, Lisa (Lyle Rector) Costner of South Bend, Marvin (Kali) Costner of Terre Haute, Indiana, Jonathan, (Caitlyn Maynor) Costner of Union, Michigan; step-sons, Luke (Nicole) Hecht of Bangor, Michigan and Bill Hecht of Sturgis, Michigan; twenty-one grandchildren; seven step-grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; one step-great-grandchild; sisters, Wanda Hood of Manilla, Arkansas and Barbara Palmore of Odell, Arkansas; her beloved dog, Tater-tot; and many extended family and close friends. Funeral services to celebrate Judy's life will be held on Tuesday, November 17, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home in Niles with a time of visitation one hour prior. Condolences, photos, and memories may be left for the family at www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Niles.

Azzaria Gunn, of Niles
Aug. 24, 1989 — Nov. 12, 2020

Niles Daily Star, Published online 9:20 am Wednesday, November 18, 2020

Azzaria Michelle Gunn, 31, of Niles, passed away unexpectedly at her home on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2020.

Azzaria, who was affectionately called Sunshine by her mother and Pookie by her father, was born on Aug. 24, 1989, to Ethyl M. Franklin and Rickie N. Gunn. Azzaria accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized at the Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. Fletcher McAfee where she continued her membership.

She graduated from Niles High School in 2008 where she was an honor student and was very active in choir and theatre. Azzaria loved to sing; to say she had a beautiful voice is truly an understatement. Immediately after graduation Azzaria was afforded the opportunity to venture to California as a member of the Young Americans. She also attended Lake Michigan College where she received a certification in Photography. She was very adventurous with her photos as that was yet another passion she enjoyed. Many stunning selfies and photographs grace her social media pages showing off her amazing smile and various theatrical poses. Azzaria was a sweet, vibrant and loving woman. Her positive energy and humor could send smiles for miles across the faces of almost everyone who knew her. 

Azzaria was employed by Lowe’s Home Improvement Center, in Niles, a place where her co-workers were her extended family.

Azzaria is survived by her parents, Ethyl Franklin, of Niles, and Rickie Gunn, of Niles,; three brothers, Samuel (Tina) Moore Jr., of Buchanan, Justin Gunn, of Mishawaka, Brandon Gunn, of Stockton, California; a sister, Rikki Wakes, of Battle Creek; maternal grandparents, Hulon and Charlie McAfee, of Niles Michigan; paternal grandparents, Dr. Joe L. and Latha Faye Moore, of Birmingham, Alabama; a special cousin who Azzaria considered her sister, Khyara Jennings, of Niles; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles, relatives and friends. 

A time of visitation will be from noon until 1 p.m. with funeral services beginning at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 19, 2020, at Brown Funeral Home. Due to the recent limit of 25 people at a time placed on funerals by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services the family asks that anyone wishing to visit or see Azzaria one last time do so during the visitation where people will be able to walk through to pay their last respects while socially distant.

Condolences, photos, and memories may be left for the family at BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com.