March 16, 1904-April 22, 1975

 HELEN E. WEBBER

 NILES—Helen E. Webber, 71, of 2932 S. Third St., died suddenly at 2 a.m. Tuesday in her home.

            Born March 16, 1904, in Chicago, she lived here most of her life.  On Oct. 1, 1922, in Niles, she married Lyle Arthur Webber.  He died July 2, 1966.

            Surviving are two sons, Roderick Webber of Niles and Arthur Webber of Mishawaka; two daughters, Mrs. Thayne Oppelt of Mishawaka and Mrs. Lois Stethem of Niles; four sisters, Mrs. Hester Osborn of Grand Rapids, Mrs. Hollis Francisco of Battle Creek, Mrs. Harriet Hoffman of Jennison, Mich., and Mrs. Hazel Kays of Charlotte, Mich. 13 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

            Funeral services will be held at 3:30 p.m. Thursday in the Pifer Chapel of the Swem-Smith Funeral Home, with the Rev. Fr. Vincent Anderson of Trinity Episcopal Church officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

            Friends may call after 3 p.m. today at the funeral home.

 (Source:  Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, April 23, 1975, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library)

           

John W. Rough
November 20, 1944


    John W. Rough, son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Rough, Route, 2, was still-born at 4:25 this morning in Pawating hospital.
    Surviving besides the parents, are the grandparents, Mrs. Mary Rough, Niles, and Mr. and Mrs. Harry Gonser, Warsaw, Ind.; a sister, Ilah Lee Rough, and two brothers, Harry and Thomas Rough.
    Prayer service will be conducted Tuesday at 10 a.m. in the Pifer funeral home by the Rev. G.A. Steeby.  Burial will be made in Silverbrook cemetery.

(Source: Niles Daily Star, Monday, November 20, 1944, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library)

John Swartz
Died July 14, 1902

John Swartz, who is suffering from hydrophobia as the result of having been bitten by a mad dog, is still living, but the attending physicican[sic] expects that the end will come within the next 48 hours. It is an extremely sad case. (Niles Daily Star, Monday, July 14, 1902, page 3, col 3, microfilm Niles District Library)

Next day:

John Swartz, after having suffering untold agony for several days, died at 5:30 o'clock last evening, a victim of hydrophobia.  Mr. Swartz was bitten by a mad dog last April when a number of persons were attacked, among them being Wellington Welling, who was immediately sent to the Pasteur Institute in Chicago, where the virus treatment is given.
The wound in the left hand from which Mr. Swartz has suffered almost untold agony, had healed up and no evil results were anticipated, but last Wednesday the usual hydrophobia symptoms appeared. First a loss of appetite and violent pains, radiating from the left hand were experienced, which grew rapidly worse.
Mr. Swartz' illness was accompanied by an abnormal dread of water, said to be a symptom of canine madness.  The deasase is caused by a bite from a rabid creature, as was the case in the present instance, or with the inoculation of a mad dog.  The chief symptoms of the disease, all of which Mr. Swartz' condition showed, are, a sense of dryness and constriction in the throat, causing difficulty in deglutition, a marked heightening of reflex excitability, producing convulsions whenever the patient attempts to swallow, or is disturbed in any way, as by the sight or sound of water.
Mr. Swartz was 79 years of age and has been a resident Niles for nearly forty years.  He is survived by six children, four sons and two daughters.
The funeral will be held from the residence of Harry Swartz on Third street, to-morrow at 4 o'clock, p.m. , Rev. Ager, officiating. Interment will take place at Silver Brook. (Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, July 15, 1902, page 3, col 3, microfilm Niles District Library)

 

&

The funeral services of the late John Swartz were held this forenoon at 10 o'clock at the home of his son, Harry, on north Third street, Rev. Charles Ager conducting the services. The remains were laid to rest in Silver Brook cemetery.  (Niles Republican, Thursday, July 17, 1902, page 3, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library)

Emily L. (Emma) Coan
1841-1902

    Mrs. W.G. Ferson received a telegram today announcing the death of her sister, Miss Emma Coan, at Kalamazoo.  Death was caused by paralysis.  Miss Coan was a graduate fof the Niles high school and was a teacher in the public schools here for a number of years.  The remains will be brought to Niles and the funeral services will be held tomorrow afternoon at 4 o'clock at the residence of Mrs. Ferson.  The interment will be in Silver Brook cemetery. The deceased was also a cousin of Mrs. H. N. Dean of this city.

(Source: Niles Republican, Thursday, July 17, 1902, page 3, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library)

    The remains of Miss Emma Coan arrived this morning from Kalamazoo and were taken to the home of Mrs. W. G. Ferson, where the funeral services were held this afternoon at 4 o'clock, Rev. Dr. J.G. Lowrie conducted the services. The interment was in Sliver Brook cemetery.

(Source: Niles Republican, Thursday, July 17, 1902, page 3, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library)

Milton Swartz
Oct. 23, 1869-May 8, 1951

    Milton Swartz, 1011 Birch street, died Tuesday afternoon at the Berrien Center hospital after an illness of two days.
    Surviving is a son, LaVerne Milton Swartz, of Niles; three stepsons, Alvin Cox, of LaPorte, Ind., and Dewey and Henderson Cox, of Niles.
    Swartz was born in Niles township on Oct., 23, 1869, and had lived all his life here.
    Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home, where services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday by the Rev. L. George Beacock, Methodist pastor. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

(Source: Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, May 9, 1951, page 2, col. 7; microfilm Niles District Library)

James A. Rohdy
Aug. 15, 1952-March 19, 2008

DOWAGIAC - James A.  Rohdy, 55, died Wednesday, March 19, in his home unexpectedly, but of natural causes. Mr.  Rohdy was born on August 15, 1952, in Reed City, Michigan to Glenn C. and Mary A. (McLachlan)  Rohdy.
      James graduated from Roscommon High School with the Class of 1970. He lived in Southwestern Michigan for 35 years, coming from Higgins Lake, Michigan. He was employed by Slatile Roofing and Restoration in South Bend and had previously been employed at Custom Tire in Berrien Springs, Michigan. James was a veteran of the Vietnam era, having served in the United State Army. He was a member of Roofers Union Local #23 in South Bend and the Loyal Order of the Moose Lodge #449 in Buchanan, Michigan. He was an avid bowler and hunter.
      On December 4, 1976, in Niles, he married the former Jackie Hoy, who survives.
Mr.  Rohdy is also survived by his mother, Mary A.  Rohdy of Claire, Michigan; sister, Glenda (Dennis) Carmoney of Claire; brother, Cameron (Hoi)  Rohdy of Bellevue, WA; brother-in-law, Kenneth (Cheryl) Hoy Jr. of Dowagiac; sister-in-law, Cindy (Rick) Anderson of Lakeland, Florida; eight nephews; two nieces and 12 great-nieces and nephews.
      Funeral services for James A.  Rohdy will be at 2 p.m. Monday, March 24, 2008, in Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles with Rev. Emmett H. Kadwell Jr. of Wesley United Methodist Church in Niles officiating.
Committal services will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles, where full military honors will be held following the services at the graveside by American Legion Post #51 of Buchanan.'
      Friends may call beginning at noon on Monday at the funeral home.
      Contributions in memory of James A.  Rohdy may be made to Saint Jude Children's Hospital or to Pet Refuge of Mishawaka.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown