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.

Rathburn, Elizabeth (Page)

Mary Ellen Drolet Obituaries
Elizabeth Page Rathburn
1850-1901

Niles Republican, Thursday, Oct. 3, 1901, page 1, col. 6, reprinted from Niles Daily Sun, Saturday, September 28, 1901; microfilm Niles District Library

PASSED AWAY
____

Mrs. Elizabeth Rathburn Surrenders to the Grim Reaper

Saturday's Sun
    
    After many months of suffering Mrs. Elizabeth Page Rathburn passed away about six o'clock this morning at the residence of Mrs. H.B. Johnson on State street West Niles, the cause of death being that dread disease tuberculosis.  She had not been strong for five years but not until several months ago did her condition become a hopeless one.
    Deceased was born in 1850 in London England, and for nearly eighteen years had been a resident of Michigan, with the exception of a short residence in South Bend, Ind., from which place she removed to Niles about a year ago and had since had rooms at Mrs. Johnsons[sic].
    She leave[sic] a husband and a son, Charles, twelve years of age to mourn her death. She also leaves a sister in London, and a brother in Singapore, India.
    The funeral will be held at four o'clock Monday afternoon from the house, the Rev. James McGee officiating.  Interment in Silver Brook cemetery.
    Although Mrs. Rathburn had resided in Niles scarcely a year yet during that short period she had made many friends and endeared herself to all with whom she came in contact.  She was a very devout christian woman and worthy of the esteem and high regard in which she was held.  She was possessed of a kind and an amiable disposition and best loved where she was best known.

Cuthbert, Ruby Mae

Mary Ellen Drolet Obituaries

Ruby Cuthbert
March 31, 1890-November 15, 1936

Niles Daily Star, Monday, November 16, 1936, page 1, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Ruby Cuthbert, Former Teacher, Taken By Death


    Miss Ruby Mae Cuthbert, 46, for many years a resident of the Bend of the River district northwest of Niles, died at the home of William Kell, southwest of Buchanan, at 8 o'clock Sunday night.
    Born in Chicago March 31, 1890, Miss Cuthbert moved to this vicinity with her parents, the late John and Jemina Cuthbert, when but a small child. She taught in the rural schools in the Bend of the River district for 20 years.  She was also a member of the Niles Presbyterian church and the Bend of the River Grange.
    Survivors are two aunts, Mrs. Mary Hartline, Buchanan, and Mrs. Mary Rough, Niles; also two uncles, James Cuthbert, South Bend, and Levine Dressler, Buchanan.
    Funeral services will be conducted at 2:30 o'clock Wednesday afternoon in the Lowell Swem funeral home in Buchanan by the Rev. Dr. G.W. Simon of Niles.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, November 17, 1936, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief:  CUTHBERT RITES WEDNESDAY

Final rites for Miss Ruby Cuthbert, 46, who died Sunday night at the home of William Kell, southwest of Buchanan, will be held at the Lowell Swem funeral home in Buchanan at 2:30 o'clock wednesday afternoon. Services will be conducted by the Rev. Guy W. Simon, of the First Presbyterian church, Niles.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

 

 

Kizer, Harry

Mary Ellen Drolet Obituaries
Harry Kizer
Died October 18, 1891

    Harry Kizer, son of J.C. Kizer, of this city, died of typhoid fever in Jackson, last night, aged 26 years.  His body will be brought here this afternoon for burial.

(Source: Niles Daily Sun, Monday, October 19, 1891, page 4, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library)

Kizer (Keyser), Lavina S.

Mary Ellen Drolet Obituaries

Lavina S. Lambert Kizer/Keyser


Niles Daily Star, Monday, January 16, 1899, page 2, col. 4, reprinted in Niles Weekly Mirror, Wednesday, January 18, 1899, page 1, col. 2. microfilm Niles District Library

DEATH OF MRS. KEYSER
She Passed Away Saturday After a Lingering Illness


    After a lingering illness, covering a period of five years, Mrs. L.S. Keyser, passed away Saturday afternoon at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Kaiser on Front street.
    The deceased was born in South Bend 55 years ago and came to Niles 18 years ago.
    Her maiden name was Lavina S. Lambert and she married J.C. Keyser at South Bend 28 years ago.
    She is survived by a husband, two daughters and one son; also a mother, who is 73 years of age, one sister and six brothers as follows:  Mrs. E. Witter, of South Bend; Jno W., of Nevada; James, of Iowa; Harvard,[sic] of Elkhart; Edward, of South Bend and George of Nebraska.  Mrs. E. Witter, Howard and Ed. Keyser in the city.
    The funeral service was held this afternoon at 1 o'clock at the M.E. church, Rev. Chapman officiating, after which the remains were conveyed to Silver Brook cemetery and tenderly consigned to the inexpressible tranquility of the grave.

Swain, Susie Anslow Machin

Mary Ellen Drolet Obituaries
Susie Anslow Machin Swain
1856-1891

    DIED

    Tuesday, December 8, 1891, at her home in West Niles, after a lingering illness, Mrs. Susie Anslow Machin Swain, wife of Tyler A. Swain, aged 35 years.  She leaves a husband and three children, mother and two sisters, Mrs. Thomas A. Bunbury and Miss Sarah Machin.
    The funeral occurred from Trinity church on Thursday afternoon.  The large concourse of friends, including the Lodge of M.W.A., attesting to the great estimation in which her beautiful character was held by all who knew her.
    [Buchanan and South Bend papers please copy.]

(Source: Niles Daily Sun, Friday, December 11, 1891, page 6, col. 2, reprinted Niles Republican, Thursday, December 17, 1891, page 3, col.3 and Buchanan Record, Thursday, December 17, 1891, page 2, col. 2.  Microfilm Niles District Library.)

Nedderman, Phyllis F.

Mary Ellen Drolet Obituaries
Phyllis F. Nedderman
April 1, 1921-June 10, 1990

    Funeral services for a former Niles resident, Phyllis F. Nedderman, 69, of 19658 Darden Road, South Bend, Ind., are at 11 a.m. Indiana time, Thursday at the Forest G. Hay Funeral Home, 435 S. Ironwood Road, South Bend, by the Rev. Don Francis.
    Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.
    Mrs. Nedderman died at 11: 50 pm.m Sunday at Memorial Hospital in South Bend.
    Mrs. Nedderman was born April 1, 1921 in Niles, and had lived in South Bend for 50 years, coming from Niles.  She was the retired office manager of Local 103 Hotel Workers.
    On April 7, 1971, in South Bend, as Phyllis F. Seever, she married Harold L. Nedderman, who preceded her in death Jan. 26, 1987.
    Survivors include two sons, Craig Nedderman and Jeffrey Nedderman, both of South Bend; two daughters, Pamela Reitz and Kimberly Toles, both of South Bend; and eight grandchildren.
    Friends may call from 7-9 p.m. today at the funeral home.

(Source: Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, June 12, 1990, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library)

Godman, Wavel

Mary Ellen Drolet Obituaries
Wavel A. Godman
March 14, 1906-April 12, 1984

    Wavel A. Godman, 78, 523 Grant, Niles, died at 8:40 p.m. Thursday in Pawating Hosptial after a brief illness.
    Born March 14, 1906, in Niles, she was a lifetime area resident and member of St. Mary's Catholic Church.  On Feb. 21, 1941, in Niles, she married Derbert O. Godman, . .[illegible] . . daughters, Mrs. Paul (Donna) Hilligoss of Niles and Mrs. Ronald (Phyllis) Wielgos of Wheaton, Ill.; one half-sister, Mrs. Alice Malone of Niles; and nine grandchildren.
    Services are 10 a.m. Monday at St Mary's Catholic Church, with the Rev. John M. Steffey of that church officiating.  Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.
    Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.  A rosary will be recited there at 8 p.m. Sunday.

(Source:  Niles Daily Star, Saturday, April 14, 1984, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library)

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