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.

Pierce, Garnette Mae

Garnette Mae Pierce
March 9, 1918-March 16, 1948

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, March 17, 1948, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Garnette Mae Pierce, 30, 547 First Court, died Tuesday morning at Doctors hospital, Benton Harbor, just five days after the birth of her son, Dean Bachman, who is still in the hospital.

Mrs. Pierce was born in Niles, March 9, 1918, and had lived here all her life. She was married to Homer Pierce April 25, 1936, in La Grange, Ind.

Surviving, in addition t the widower and the infant son, are her mother, Mrs. Chester Powell; father Emil Bachman; and a son, Don Elden, all of Niles.

Friends may call at the Kiger funeral home where services will be held Thursday at 2 p.m.; the Rev. L. George Beacock, of the First Methodist church, will officiate. Interment will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Schumacher, Carl G.

Carl G. Schumacher
Jan. 21, 1888-Feb. 1, 1948

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, Feb 1, 1948, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services were held this afternoon at the Orvis funeral home in South Bend for Carl G. Schumacher, 60, former Niles resident, who was fund dead in his bed Tuesday at his residence in South Bend. Death was attributed to a cerebral hemorrhage, and time of death set at 10 a.m. Sunday

Born Jan. 21, 1888, in Germany, Mrs. Schumacher left Niles 15 years ago to go to South Bend, where he was employed as a night watchman by the Singer Manufacturing company. Surviving are a son, Harold, of California; a brother, August G., of South Bend; and a sister, Mrs. Anna Hoffman, South Bend

The services were conducted by the Rev. Frank E. Davison, pastor of the First Christian church in South Bend, and burial was in Silverbrook cemetery, Niles.

Scofield, Ora Anna

Ora Anna Scofield
1874-March 3, 1948

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, March 4, 1948, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Ora Anna Scofield, 74 died at 6:40 p.m., Wednesday in her home at 210 North Tenth street. She had been ill since December 1947. Mrs. Scofild[sic], born in Royalton township in 1874, had resided in Niles most of her life. She had been the wife of the late Edward Scofield. Surviving are five children: Mabel Scofield, St. Joseph; Mrs. Ethel Peace, Buchanan; Laura Scofield, Niles; Mrs. Lottie Mark, Niles, two step-children: Mrs. Carrie Byron, Allegan; Mrs. Jennie Schoenfelder, Stevensville; 21 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren; two half-sisters, Mrs. H.R. Ells, Benton Harbor, and Mrs. Earl Elliott, Kalamazoo. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Pifer funeral home; the Rev. Clarence K. Graham, Pastor of the First Baptist church, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

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.