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.

Miars, John D.

John D. Miars
April 29, 1872-Jan. 18, 1960


Niles Daily Star, Monday, January 18, 1960, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

John D. Miars, 87, formerly of Niles, . . . [illegible] . . . Memorial Hospital, Orlando, Fla. He had been living at 2919 Sylvan Dr., Orlando.

He was born April 29, 1872, in Berrien Township and spent most of his life in Berrien County, moving to Florida in 1956.  He was a member of Western Star Masonic Lodge No. 30, Berrien Springs.

Mr. Miars' wife, Myrtle, died Jan. 1, 1938. He is survived by one son, Graydon E. Miars, South Bend, and one grandson.

Friends may call at the Kiger-Halbritter Funeral Home beginning at noon Wednesday. Funeral arrangements are incomplete. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

and

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, January 19, 1960, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Services Set

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m.Thursday in the Kiger-Halbritter Funeral Home for John D. Miars, 87, a retired railroad engineer who died Monday at an Orlando, Fla. hospital.  Charles Riggs, Christian Science reader, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Goodling, Charles

Charles Goodling
Sept. 3, 1876-Sept. 1945


Niles Daily Star, Thursday, September 27, 1945, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Burial Made Here for Former Operator of Niles Grocery Store

Funeral services for Charles Goodling, 69, 602 Lincolnway East, South Bend, was conducted Wednesday afternoon in South Bend. Burial was made in Silverbrook cemetery, Niles.

Goodling, former operator of a grocery store in Niles, died at St. Joseph hospital, South Bend, of a heart attack.

Surviving him are four sons, Herbert, of Springfield, Ill., Harold, Homer and Gordon of South Bend.  Goodling's wife preceded him in death five years ago.  The only daughter died in 1920 while the family was living in Niles.

 

Goodling, Norman E.

Norman E. Goodling
April 27, 1878-Dec. 25, 1961


Norman Ellsworth Goodling, 84, 227 Owens St., died at 11:55 p.m. Monday in Pawating Hospital after a long illness.

He was born April 27, 1878, in Lydick, Ind., and had been a resident of Niles for 50 years.  He was employed by National Standard for 19 years before retiring in 1948.

Survivors include his wife, Mary, whom he married Nov. 27, 1912; two sons, Ray E. Goodling, 223 N. 6th and Donald Arthur Goodling, 2213 S. 3rd St. Rd., two daughters, Mrs. Eldon (Irene) Shetterly, Cassopolis, and Mrs. Jack (Helen) Shetterly, Muskegon; 11 grandchilden, 15 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Mrs. Samuel Weiss, Mishawaka, and Mrs. Walter Smith, Charleston, W.Va., and a brother, Theodore H. Goodling, Lockport, N.Y.

Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home after Wednesday noon. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in the  funeral home with the Rev. John P. MacLachlan, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.


Niles Daily Star, Tues. Dec. 26, 1961, page 2, col 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Brockway, Catherine A. (Bender)

Catherine A. Brockway
Nov. 12, 1902-Sept. 27, 1945


Niles Daily Star, Thursday, September 27, 1945, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Woman, 43, Dies After Illness

After an illness of three years Mrs. Catherine A. Brockway, aged 43, wife of Cyril E. Brockway, died in her home today at 10:45. They resided at 1401 Ferry street.

Mrs. Brockway was born Nov. 12, 1902, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. D.J. Bender, who survive. She was married to C.E. Brockway in Chicago Nov. 26, 1919 and the came to Niles from Chicago Heights, Ill. in 1921.

Surviving are her husband, of Niles, her parents, in Chicago Heights, two children, Mrs. Paul Mansfield, of NIles, and S/Sgt. Eugene E. Brockway, in Iceland, and the following brothers and sisters; Miss Freida Bender, Ralph, Harry, and Michael, in Chicago Heights; Edward, in Detroit; Lt. George Bender, in Texas, and Cpl. William Bender, in the Philippines.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home where services will be conducted Saturday at 2 p.m. by the Rev. L.G. Beacock, pastor of the Methodist church.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

and:


Niles Daily Star, Friday, September 28, 1945, page 2, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral Rites Saturday for Mrs. Brockway, 43

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, in the Pifer funeral for Mrs. Catherine A. Brockway, 43, who died Thursday.
Funeral services will be conducted by Rev. L. George Beacock, pastor of the Methodist church, and burial will be made in Silverbrook cemetery.

Hill, Marjorie V.

Marjorie V. Hill
April 26, 1906-Jan. 22, 1960


Mrs. Marjorie Vose Hill, 53, 39 S. 4th St., substitute teacher in the Niles Public Schools, died at 3:30 p.m. Friday in Pawating Hospital, where she had been a patient since Tuesday.  She had been in failing health for the past two years.

Mrs. Hill was born April 26, 1906, in Kalamazoo and came to Niles in 1920 from Michigan City, Ind.  She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and the Order of Eastern Star.

Surviving are a son Robert Lewis Hill, at home; a daughter, Kay Irene Hill, at home, and a sister, Mrs. Thelma Abbott, Tucson, Ariz.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday in the First Presbyterian church with the Rev. John McLachlan officiating. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.  Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home after 7 p.m. today and until noon Monday.


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, January 23, 1960, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library



Hatton, Margaret

Mrs. Margaret Hatton
July 13, 1880-Jan. 22, 1960


Mrs. Margaret Hatton, 79, formerly of Niles, died at 3 p.m. Friday in Deaconess Hospital, Milwaukee, after an illness of one month. She had moved to Milwaukee five years ago and resided at 2233 W. Custer Ave.

Mrs. Hatton was born July 13, 1880 in Attica, Ind.  Her husband, Elmer T. Hatton, died Feb. 2, 1952.

Survivors include a daughter, Mrs. Betty Hajicek, and a grandson, Charles Burge, both of Milwaukee.

Friends may call after noon Sunday at the Kiger-Halbritter Funeral Home where services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday by Jehovah's Witnesses. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, January 23, 1960, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Snouwaert, Charles

Charles Snouwaert
Feb. 3, 1872-Jan 20, 1960


Charles Snouwaert, 87, who formerly lived at 109 S. 4th St., died at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in the home of a daughter, Mrs. Glenn Redding, Galien, following an illness of one year.

Mr. Snouwaert was born Feb. 3, 1872, in Holland, The Netherlands and came to this community 51 years ago from Attica, Ind.  He was a retired farmer. His wife Sarah, preceded him in death on Jan. 20, 1953.

Surviving beside the daughter in Galien are two other daughters, Mrs. Mead Burton, Niles, and Mrs. Frank Reynolds, Dowagiac; a son, Henry Snouwaert, Niles; 18 grandchildren, and 22 great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Kiger & Halbritter Funeral Home here with Dr. Maurice McKean, Pastor of [illegible] and burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.  Friends may call at the funeral home.


Niles Daily Star, Thursday, January 21, 1960, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library