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.

Hopkins, Nettie Mae (Finney)

Nettie Mae Hopkins
Feb. 28, 1920-April 28, 1982

Niles Daily Star, Friday, April 30, 1982, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Nettie Mae Hopkins, 62, of 627 S. 5th St., Niles, died at 10:50 a.m. Wednesday at Pawating Hospital following an illness of one week.

She had been employed as a processor at the Gerber Baby Foods Company in Rochester, N.Y. She had moved here a year ago from Rochester.

Mrs. Hopkins was born on Feb. 28, 1920 in Monticello, Ark. She married Dan Hopkins in 1935 in St. Louis, Mo.  Her husband survives.

Also surviving are her father, John Finney of Dowagiac; two daughters, Louise Finney of Rochester, M.Y. and Dessie Mae Hudson of Chicago; a brother, John Finney of Niles; two grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Monday at the Pifer-Smith Funeral Home in Niles. Elder Harold A. Scott of the Christ Temple Church of Cassopolis will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

A wake service will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

 

Hand, Lucille E.

Lucille "Lou" E. Hand
Aug. 25, 1913-March 31, 1982

Niles Daily Star, Friday, April 30, 1982, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

FERNDALE--Lucille "Lou" E. Hand, 68, died Wednesday at South Macomb Hospital in Warren after a lengthy illness.

A native of Pennsylvannia[sic], she was a registered nurse.

Survivors include her husband, Joseph A. , and two sons, Thomas J. of Ferndale and Richard E. of San Jose, Calif.

Services for Lucille Hand will be at 7 p.m. Friday at the Spaulding and Curtin Funeral Home here. Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Silverbrook Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Michigan Heart Fund.

 

Saulsberry, Thelma N.

Thelma N. Saulsberry
Feb. 25, 1917-April 3, 1982

Niles Daily Star, Monday, April 5, 1982, page 2, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

Thelma N. Saulsberry, 65, 2385 U.S. 12, died Satuday afternoon at Memorial Hospital after a lengthy illness.

She was a native of Arkansas and had come to the area in 1943 from Virginia. She was a member of the Church of Christ in Mishawaka.

Survivors include her husband, Harold O.; a daughter, Rose Marlin of Niles; a son, Dennis of Plymouth; a sister, Jean Davis of Michigan City, Ind. and two grandchildren.

Services for Thelma N. Saulsberry will be at 1:30 p.m. today at the Pifer-Smtih Funeral Home. Rev. David Thompson will officiate and burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

 

Power, Horace G.

Horace G. Power
Dec. 20, 1875-Dec. 23, 1929

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, December 24, 1929, page 1, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

HORACE G. POWER IS STRICKEN MONDAY P.M.
Niles Man Passes Away After Long Affliction with Heart Disease

Horace G. Power, 66 N. St. Joseph avenue, died at 3:10 on Monday afternoon in Epworth hospital in South Bend following about a year of illness from heart disease.  Mr. Power had been in Epworth hospital seveal weeks ago and when his condition seemed to warrant he returned to Niles. Last Sunday on the advice of his physician he reentered the hospital. Yesterday morning his condition became alarming and his brother Edmund H. Power was called to his bedside and was there at his death.

The body is at the Rutherford Funeral Home and the funeral services will be held there on Thursday afternoon at 2:30. The funeral services and the committal service at the family lot in Silver Brook cemetery will be in charge of the Niles Lodge of Elks.

Mr. Power was born in Niles on Dec. 30, 1875, a son of Edward H. and Mary Power, deceased. He attended the Niles pulbic schools and  assisted his father, a pioneer plumber of Niles in his business. After the death of his father, 21 years ago, he continued to engage in the plumbing business both as an employe of the Michigan Central railroad company and of his brother Edmund H. Power. He discontinued work about a year ago on account of ill heatlh but two months later he resumed his work with his brother and continued to work until ill health again prevented.

Mr. Power is survived by two brothers and one sister who are Robert Power, of Paris, Ill., Edmund H. Power, of Niles and Mrs. James Smith of South Bend, also by three neices and three nephews.

The deceased was a member of the Niles lodge of Elks.

 

 

Ready, William B.

William B. Ready
April 19, 1844-Feb. 12, 1913

Niles Daily Sun, Wednesday, February 13, 1913, page 1, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

SUDDEN DEATH OF WILLIAM R. READY
Life long resident of Niles, Ill but one day.

William Ready, a life long resident of Niles, died suddenly this morning about 9 o'clcok at his home 906 south Third street.

Mr. Ready became ill with heart trouble yesterday and received medical attention from Dr. Giddings. This morning the physician was again summoned but Mr. Ready was dead when the doctor reached the house.

Mr. Ready was born in Niles in 1844. He was a carpenter by trade and during the past summer he engaged in this work.

His wife has been dead a number of years.

Mr. Ready is survived by two sisters, Mrs. William Hutton and Mrs. Moore of Mexico City and a brother, Raymond who is in the Hawaian[sic] Islands.

The deceased has been a member of the Calanthe lodge Knight of Pythias for many years.

The funeral will be held Friday morning at 10 o'clock from the residence. Rev. E.M. Renner will officate.

Calanthe lodge will also assist in the services.

Relatives of the late Mrs. Ready from Kalamazoo will come for the funeral.

 

Note: Reference in headline to middle initial "R" appears to be typo. Death record and cemetery listing are for William B. Ready

 

Beyrer, Catherine (Schultz)

Catherine Beyrer (Schultz)
Aug. 28, 1835-Feb. 12, 1913

Niles Daily Sun, Wednesday, February 12, 1913, page 1, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

MRS. L. BEYRER DIED SUDDENLY
Well known resident of country north of NIles stricken with paralysis as she slept

Mrs. Catherine Beyrer, a pioneer and highly esteemed resident of the country north of Niles, passed away suddenly about 12:45 o'clock this morning.

Mrs. Beyrer suffered a stroke of paralysis last fall and has since been in ill health. However, she has been able to out and yesterday she made calls on some of her neighbors. She retired about 9 o'clcok and shortly after midnight her daughter hearing her mother breathing heavily hurried to her bedside.

Mrs. Beyrer had evidently suffered a second stroke of paralysis and did not again rally.

The sudden and unexpected death is deplored by many friends of the estimable lady.

Mrs. Beyrer's maiden name was Catherine Schultz. She was 77 years of age and her birthplace is in Germany.

At the age of 18 she came to Niles. She was married to Lucas Beyrer, who died nine years ago, and had since resided in the house, two and a half miles north of Niles where their deaths occurred.

Six children survive their mother, as follows: Miss Mary Beyrer, Kalamazoo; Mrs. Chas Rogers, Sumnerville; Mrs. Louise Kehrer, Sister Lakes; Misses Minnie and Sarah, who reside at the family home and William Beyers[sic] of Chicago. Two sisters, Mrs. Charles Beyrer of Buchanan and Mrs. William Nothdurst of Sister Lakes.

Mrs. Beyrer is a member of the Ladies' Society of St. John's German church of this city.

The funeral will be held from the house at 1 o'clock Friday afternoon and from St. John's church in this city at 2 o'clock.

 

Warren, Martha J. (Champion)

Martha J. Warren
Sept. 20, 1856-Feb. 9, 1913

Niles Daily Sun, Monday, February 10, 1913, page 1, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

MRS. FRANK WARREN PASSED AWAY SUNDAY
A useful life of a noble Christian woman is ended

Mrs. Frank J. Warren, whose maiden name was Martha J. Champion was born near South Bend, Ind., Sept. 20, 1856. She came to Niles with her parent when a child. She was the second oldest in the family of seven children consisting of two girls and five boys. She was married to Frank J. Warren June 21, 1899 and for fourteen years they enjoyed a happy home life.

Mrs. Warren was one of those women whose first thought and care was for the comfort and happiness of the home. Our country is blest with many such noble unselfish women who are helping to lighten  burdens and sweeten the lives of those with whom they associate. It can be truly said of her life that "she did what she could. Always cheerful and looking for the good in others trying to make their virturs[sic] large, and their faults small. She had the happy faculty of making friends and retaining friendship. She united with the Methodist Episcopal church when quite a young girl and was always faithful and loyal to her vows. She was an honest worker in the Ladies' Aid Society, Woman's Home MIssionary Society and a member of the Woman's Bible Class. She made a warm place for herself in the hearts ofd[sic] and young in the church and the memory of her Christain love and charity will be an inspiration to the life of the church.

For two years she served as Captain in the Salvation Army and was successful and held in high esteem by the officers and members, but feeling that she was needed in the home she gave up the army to help care for her mother.

Mrs. Warren had been a great sufferer for over two years, but was cheerful and patient even when she was suffering most, her thought was for others. On Saturday she seemed to know that her suffering would son be over when she said, "Tomorrow I shall  be singing in Heaven."

She passed from suffering to rest Sunday morning at 7:30 o'clock.

She leaves a husband Frank J. Warren of Warrens and Co's hardware store, her mother, Mrs. Mariah Champion, one sister, Ella who has the department of drawing in the Public Schools, five brothers, John of Hartford, William, Charles, George and Frank of Niles.

The funeral will be held from the M.E. church Tuesday afteroon at 2:30 o'clock. Interment at Silver Brook.