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.

Shefsick, Rita Mae

Rita Mae Shefsick
Sept. 14, 1947-March 28, 1948

Niles Daily Star, Monday, March 29, 1948, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

SHEFSICK INFANT DIES

Rita Mae Shefsick, six and one-half month old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Shefsick, rural route one, died of pneuomina[sic] Sunday afternoon at Pawating hospital.

Surviving, besides the parents, are a brother, Norman, at home; grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Adam Shefsick, Maryville, Ill., and Mr. and Mrs. Shepard, Logansport, Ind.

The infant was born on Sept. 14, 1947, in Niles and had been ill since birth. Services will be conducted at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Pifer funeral home by the Rev. L. George Beacock, pastor of the First Methodist church. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Vanderbeck, Harry R.

Harry R. Vanderbeck
Dec. 3, 1890-March 6, 1948

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, March 6, 1948, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Harry R. Vanderbeck, 57, of 722 Sycamore street, died at 6:45 a.m today at Pawating hospital after a three -day illness.

Mr. Vanderbeck was born Dec. 3, 1890, in Sturgis, the son of Mr. and Mrs. William Vanderbeck, who survive in South Bend. He came to Niles 38 years ago from South Bend and had been employed at the Post Office.

Surviving besides his parents are his wife, Helen; two daughters, Mrs. Willard Weimer, Brownsville, Ore., and Mrs. Robert Weimer, Niles; one son, William, at home; five grandchildren; two sister, Mrs. Earl Burge, Niles, and Mrs. Schuyler Morris, Hudson Lake, Ind.; and three brothers, Warren, Saginaw; Willis, South Bend; and Everett, Fond du Lac, Wis.

Friends may call at the Kiger funeral home where services will be conducted at 2:30 p.m. Monday by the Rev. Clarence K. Graham, pastor of the First Baptist church. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, March 9, 1948, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

ATTEND FUNERAL

Relatives who arrived from out-of-town to attend the funeral of Harry Vanderbeck, who passed away on Saturday, were his daughter, Mrs. Willard Weimer of Brownsville, Ore.; parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Vanderbeck, South Bend; brother, Mr .and Mrs. William Vanderbeck, South Bend; a sister, Mr. and Mrs. Schuyler Morris, New Carlisle, Ind.; a brother, Warren Vanderbeck, Saginaw; brother, E.E. Vanderbeck, Fond du Lac, Wis.; Mr. and Mrs. Harold Breece, Dowagiac; Mrs. Paul Langdon, Milwaukee, Wis., and Mr. and Mrs. George Reber, Elkhart, Ind.

Webster, Irean

Irean Webster
May 14, 1906-Feb. 27, 1948


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, February 28, 1948, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Irean Webster, 41, 1205 North Tenth street, died Friday night at the Pinecrest hospital in Oshtemo where she had been confined for the past four and one-half years.
She had been a resident of Niles since 1932 when she came here with her family from Walsenburg, Colo. She was born may 14, 1906 at Rouse, Colo.,

Surviving are her husband, Russell and two children, Lewis of Niles, and Priscilla of Wakelee; also a sister, Mrs. Eleanor Woodruff, Pueblo, Colo., and a brother, Clarence C. Curry of Chicago.

Funeral services will be held Monday, 3:30 p.m. with the Rev. R.P. James of the Franklin A.M.E. Church, officiating. Place is to be announced.

Burial will be at Silverbrook cemetery.

 

Willard, Carrie E.

Carrie E. Willard
Feb. 1, 1861-Feb. 13, 1948

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, February 14, 1948, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Carrie E. Willard, 87, rural route two, died at 7:20 last night at her Yankee street home after several years' illness.

Last rites will be conducted at the Kiger funeral home 2 p.m. Monday. The Rev. Clarence Graham will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home.

Mrs. Willard was born in Augusta, Me., Feb. 1861, and has lived in the Niles area since 1865. She was a member of the First Baptist church; and a charter member of the Yankee Street club which held its first meeting at her home.

Surviving are one son, Hugh J. Willard, Niles; six grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. He husband, Jay J. Willard, died 20 years ago.

 

Cullom, Bertha J.

Bertha J. Cullom
1903-March 6, 1948

Niles Daily Star, Monday, March 8, 1948, page 2, col. 5-6, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Bertha J. Cullom, 51, was found dead in a gas filled room in her home Saturday at 2:45 p.m. The coroner returned a report of accidental death. Mrs. Cullom was born in Tiptonville, Tenn., in 1903, and moved to Niles from Blytheville, Tenn., in 1942.

Surviving are her husband, Calvin, one daughter, Mrs. George Boysette, both of Niles; and two sisters, Mrs. Walter McGarrity, Heth, Ark., and Mrs. J.W. Lucy, Blytheville, Ark.<

Funeral services will be held at the Pifer funeral home at 2 p.m. Tuesday. The Rev. C.K. Graham, pastor of the First Baptist church, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Dickeson, Infant son

Dickeson Infant
March 8, 1948-March 8, 1948

Niles Daily Star, Monday, March 8, 1948, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

DICKESON INFANT DIES

The infant son of Mr. and Mrs. E. Bernhard Dickeson, rural route one, expired shortly after birth early this morning at Pawating hospital. A prayer service will be conducted Tuesday at 10 a.m. at the Kiger funeral home by the Rev. Theo Eisen, pastor of St. John's Evangelical and Reformed church. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Fowler, Katherine

Kathryn Fowler
Aug. 17, 1879-March 6, 1948

Niles Daily Star, Monday, March 8, 1948, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Kathryn Fowler, 69, died Sunday afternoon at the memorial hospital in South Bend. The only known survivor is a cousin, Mrs. Edward Vincent, Buchanan.

Mrs. Fowler was born in New York City, and her last residence was given as 913 Lawndale, South Bend.

Services will be at the Pifer funeral home Tuesday at 4 p.m. The Rev. Harry L. Nicholson, pastor of the Trinity Episcopal church, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Note: DOB from Indiana Death Records