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.

Burt, Mary (Michael)

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Mary E. Burt (Michael)
1854-July 15, 1922

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, July 15, 1922, page 6, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

DEATH CLAIMS TWO CITIZENS

 

Mrs. Mary Burt, mother of Charles Burt, chief of the Niles fire department, and Mrs. Anna Zechlin, mother of George Zechlin, assistant chief of the Niles fire department, died this morning at their respective homes.

 

Mrs. Mary Burt

Mrs. Mary E. Burt was born in mid-ocean while her parents were enroute from Germany to the United States to make their home. Her maiden name was Mary E. Michael. She was married to Stewart Burt, deceased, on May 25, 1872.


Mrs. Burt is survived by nine children, who are: Martin J. Burt of Pasadena, Calif., Frank E. Burt and Charles F. Burt of Niles, Mrs. Viola E. Hesen and Mrs. Edna L. Cobourn of Washington, D.C.; Mrs. Bessie M. Moore of Pittsburgh, Pa., Mrs. Neola A. Marston of Auburn, Ind., Mrs. Eva Scott and Mrs. Myrtle Clark of Niles, and by the following sisters and brothers who are Mrs. Frank Rush and Mrs. A. Petcher of Bremen, Ind., and George Michael of the state of Washington.


Mrs. Burt was highly esteemed in Niles as a good neighbor, a kind and loyal friend and many beside the immediate relatives deeply mourn her death.


The funeral services will be conducted Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock at the house. Burial will take place in Silver Brook cemetery. . .

Chavis, Ann (Mitchell)

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Ann Chavis (Mitchell)
June 14, 1960-March 10, 1960

Niles Daily Star, Friday, March 11, 1960, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Ann Chavis, 12 S. 15th St., died at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in her home where she had been ill since December.

Mrs. Chavis was born in Niles and for many years had operated a beauty shop at her home. She was a member of the First Church of Christ Scientist, Niles, and of the Mother Church, Boston, Mass., Surviving is a sister, Mrs. Arthur Harrod, Niles.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Pifer Funeral Home with Mrs. Durlin Wheeler reading the Christian Science service. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemtery. Friends may call at the funeral home.

 

Clark, Elmer

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Elmer Clark
March 17, 1872-Jan. 7, 1906

Niles Daily Star, Monday, January 8, 1906, page 3, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Elmer Clark, son of Mr.and Mrs. Herman Clark of 419 S. Third street, died Sunday morning at 6 o'clock of pneumonia after an illness of only three days.  Mr. Clark was 33 years old, having been born March 17, 1872, in Ontario, Canada. He worked for a while with the Niles Milling Co., but was last employed by Alex Staples of South Bend. He leaves a father and mother, two sisters, and two brothers to mourn his loss. His father lies at the point of death with valvular heart trouble. There will be a private funeral Tuesday at 2 p.m.  Rev. R.H. Bready officiating.  Interment at Silver Brook cemetery.

 

Commins, William Jason

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William Jason Commins
July 16, 1901- Oct. 30, 1977

Niles Daily Star, Monday, October 31, 1977, page 2, col. 1-2, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES-- William Jason Commins, 76, of 2743 Earl St., died at 2:40 p.m. Sunday at Pawating Hospital, following a short illness.

A member of the Christian Faith Tabernacle, Mr. Commins was retired from the Michiana News Service. He was born July 16, 1901, in Grand Traverse, and had lived here since 1948, coming from Berrien Springs.

On July 24, 1927, in Riverdale, Mich., he married Jennie May Loughin, who survives.

Also surviving are five sons, Harry of Niles; Charles of Coldwater; Ernest of Eau Claire; Edwin and Elmer; five daughters, Ms. Evelyn McNinch, Mrs. Frances Helms and Mrs. George Stanifer, all of Niles; Mrs. Minnie Owens of Chicago and Mrs. Delores Mobley of Decatur; a brother Earl; 21 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Pifer Chapel of the Swem-Smith Funeral Home with the Rev. Harrell Wilson of Christian Faith Tabernacle officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home after 4 p.m. today.

 

Cross, Ralph E.

editor Obituaries

Ralph E. Cross
Dec. 31, 1893-Aug. 22, 1970

Niles Daily Star, Monday, August 24, 1970, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Ralph Cross, 76, of 1982 Baldwin Dr., died at 8:30 p.m Saturday in Pawating Hospital after an illness of six months.

A retired employe of Niles Steel Tank Co., Mr. Cross was born Dec. 31, 1893, in Detroit, and had lived here since 1926, coming from Grand Rapids. On May 5, 1920, in Allegan, Mich., he married the former Viola V. Goodrich, who survives. He was a World War I Army veteran and a member of the American Legion Post 26 and the Four Flags Barracks, Veteran's of World War I.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Esel York and Mrs. Edwin Sayer, both of Niles; nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Halbritter Funeral Home, with Sheldon M. Hart of the Jehovah's Witnesses Church officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home..

 

Davis, Robert Charles

editor Obituaries

Robert Charles Davis
Oct. 9, 1939- Jan. 1, 1940

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, January 2, 1940, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Davis Infant Dies: Service Wednesday at Pifer's Chapel

 

Services will be held Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 for Robert Charles Davis, infant son of Mr.and Mrs. Robert Davis, 323 1/2 North Third street.

The child, who had been ill two weeks, died Monday afternoon in Pawating hospital.

The body is at the Pifer funeral home where services will be held. The Rev. Harry L. Nicholson will officiate and burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.



Exner, August W.

editor Obituaries

August W. Exner
May 1, 1882-July 2, 1970

Niles Daily Star, Friday, July 3, 1970, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--August W. Exner, 88, of 2276 N. Fifth, died at 1:15 p.m. Thursday at Pawating Hospital. He had been ill for three weeks.

A retired employe of Niles Steel Tank Co., he was a lifetime resident of Niles.  For 35 years, he was an elder and usher at the First Presbyterian Church. His wife, the former Seda Frederick, whom he married Dec. 30, 1903, died in 1964.

A daughter, Mrs. Donald L. (Vivian) Haynes of Niles, survives.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at the First Presbyterian Church. The Rev. Donald E. Gordon, associate minister, will officiate and burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at the Halbritter Funeral Home.

 

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