Obituaries

Dolores Mae Baird, ‘Dee Dee,’ of Niles
July 12, 1915 — April 20, 2015

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:13am Friday, April 24, 2015

Dolores Mae Baird, “Dee Dee” 99, of Lakeshore Drive, Niles, went very peacefully to be with the Lord on Monday at 10:30 a.m., April 20, 2015 at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Indiana, following a brief illness.

She was born on July 12, 1915, in Michigan City, Indiana to Gustave and Carrie Ethel (Shaw) Fritz. Dolores was employed as a manager at Woolworth’s in Michigan City, where she met her future husband, Homer J. Baird “Jerry”.

Dolores Mae Baird

On August 14, 1948 in South Bend, Indiana, she married Homer J. Baird, “Jerry” who preceded her in death on March 8, 2005.

She was also preceded in death by her sisters Viola Potter, Alice Forrester, and Anita Durnal; and her brothers Jeff and Leonard Fritz.

Surviving family includes her daughter Janet S. Craig and her son Thomas W. Baird, both of Niles; grandson Jeff Craig of South Bend and great-granddaughters Jillian and Malayna Craig.

She was a very special, beautiful lady. She had a big heart and was a very warm, loving, kind, gentle soul. She was loved by everyone that knew her. She loved her family and friends with all her heart. She especially enjoyed spending time with her two great-granddaughters Jillian and Malayna. Her eyes would light up so brightly when she would see them. They loved their great-grandma “Dee Dee” dearly. She lived a long life, setting a family record. Many more wonderful things could be said about her.

Dolores enjoyed watching the Chicago Cubs, and she enjoyed playing Gin Rummy with her family, usually winning. She liked to read books, and also enjoyed listening to her favorite music, and she could sing, beautifully. She had a wonderful sense of humor. On sunny days in the summer at the lake front home on Barron Lake, she enjoyed pontooning with her family. She usually had her pet poodle with her also. “Dee Dee” and “Jerry” would sit on their porch overlooking Barron Lake, watching the activities and enjoying the beautiful sunsets. A wonderful friendly married couple of 57 years.

Dolores was a true blessing and everyone was blessed to have known her. She was/is a Christian/John 3:16. Now a resident in Heaven.

A Celebration of Life for Dolores Baird will be at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 26, 2015, at Hope Community Church in Niles, Michigan with the Rev. John A. Baird of Saint Joseph, Michigan officiating.

Contributions in memory of Dolores may be made to Hope Community Church.

Please send online condolences to www.halbritterfunerals.com Arrangements were made at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

Mildred Jean ‘Millie’ (Boles) Cain, of Niles
Sept. 12, 1920 — Oct. 15, 2014

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:06am Thursday, October 16, 2014

Mildred Jean ‘Millie’ Cain

Mildred Jean “Millie” (Boles) Cain, age 94 of Niles, Michigan died on Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2014 following a brief illness. She was born Sept. 12, 1920 in rural Wisconsin near River Falls to Robert and Ethel Della (Cadwell) Boles. Millie graduated from River Falls High School in 1936 and then from River Falls State Teacher’s College in 1940. She came to Niles in 1940 to teach at Central Elementary School.

In 1944 in Niles, Millie married The Honorable Thomas W. Cain and they lived in the Cain family homestead on Broadway Street while Tom practiced law in the office he built next-door at 3rd Street and Broadway. Following Tom’s death in 1961, Millie returned to teaching fourth grade at Eastside School, retiring in 1978.

Millie was a longtime member of First Presbyterian Church in Niles where she served as an elder and a Sunday School teacher. She was a member of the Niles Service League and various state and local teachers’ organizations.

Surviving family includes one daughter, Cathy Fotia; two grandchildren, Frank Fotia and Marie (Fotia) Walker, all of South Bend; two great-grandchildren, Antonio and Lucas Walker. She is also survived by a sister-in-law, Marilyn Boles of Minneapolis, Minnesota as well as several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services for Mildred Jean Cain will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 17, 2014 at the First Presbyterian Church in Niles with the Rev. Fran Lane-Lawrence of the church officiating. Entombment will be in the Silverbrook Abbey in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 4 to 8 p.m. on Thursday at the First Presbyterian Church as well as half an hour before the funeral service the next day. Donations in memory of Millie may be made to The Foundation of First Presbyterian Church in Niles.

The Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, is assisting with arrangements.

www.halbritterfunerals.com

Antoinette Frizzell, 89
June 24, 1922 — Aug. 6, 2011  

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:22pm Monday, August 8, 2011

Kathryn Jean Frizzell, of Niles
Dec. 30, 1928 — April 12, 2015

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:16am Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Kathryn Jean Frizzell, 86, of Niles, Michigan died on Sunday, April 12, 2015, at Riveridge Manor in Niles following an extended illness. She was born Dec. 30, 1928 in Benton Harbor, Michigan to Everett J. & Mildred (Stevens) Gordon.

Kathryn Jean Frizzell

Jean spent over 30 years in the hospitality industry at the Portofino and Franky’s restaurants in Niles. Upon retirement Jean and her husband, Sherman, split their time between Twin Lakes in Dowagiac, Michigan and Palmetto, Florida.

On July 3rd, 1948, in Niles, Jean married Sherman J. Frizzell, who preceded her in death on Oct. 22, 1998. Jean was also preceded in death by her son, Jack B. Frizzell, her daughter, Laury L. Frizzell, her granddaughter Kathryn “Katie” Frizzell, and three sisters, Darlyne R. Day, June L. Haynes and Patricia A. Romeo.

Surviving family includes her son, S. Edward “Eddie” (Debbie) Frizzell of Caledonia, Michigan and her daughter, Teresa S. Veach of Niles; eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

The funeral service for Kathryn Jean Frizzell will be held at Noon on Friday, April 17, 2015, at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with Rev. Ray Fulbright of the Saint John United Church of Christ in Niles. Interment will be private at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends at the funeral home beginning at 10 a.m. until the time of services on Friday.

Donations in memory of Jean may be made to the organization of donor’s choice.

Arrangements were made at the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, Michigan.

www.halbritterfunerals.com

Judy F. Graziani, of Niles
Aug. 1, 1954 — March 22, 2015

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:40am Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Judy F. Graziani, 60, of Niles, Michigan died with her family gathered around her bed at 2:35 p.m. on Sunday, March 22, 2015, at her home following an extended illness.

Judy F. Graziani

She was born on Aug. 1, 1954, in Niles, Michigan to Lovell and Edith (Yahne) Pitcher. She was a lifetime Niles resident and helped in the family business, Milano’s Pizza.

Judy attended Michiana Christian Embassy in Niles.

On March 26, 1973, in Saint Joseph, Michigan she married Nick Graziani with whom she would have celebrated the forty-second anniversary of their wedding this month.

Surviving family includes her husband, Nick Graziani and their children, Korrie (Rob) Krueger, Nikki (Steve) Brown, and Tony (Nikki) Graziani, all of Niles; grandchildren Nicholas, Alex, Lexi, Aiden, Mia, Ryne, and Zoe; Judy’s siblings, David (Dorothy) Pitcher, Larry (Cathy) Pitcher, Jerry (Nora) Pitcher, all of Niles, Sandra Barnaby of Greensburg, Pennsylvania, Janet (Leo) Martinez, Pat (Wes) Allen, Bernie (Cheri) Pitcher and Lonnie Pitcher, all of Niles, and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

The funeral service for Judy Graziani will be at Noon on Monday, April 6, 2015 at Michiana Christian Embassy in Niles with the Rev. Jeffrey Whittaker of the church officiating. Interment will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery.

The family will receive relatives and friends on Monday (April 6) at church, beginning at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Judy may be made to the Michiana Christian Embassy, 1922 East Main Street, Niles, Michigan 49120.

Kay Margaret Hartman, of Niles
Aug. 30, 1935 — April 13, 2015

Niles Daily Star, Published 8:40am Thursday, April 16, 2015

Kay Margaret Hartman, 79, of Niles, Michigan, died on Monday, April 13, 2015, at Lakeland Health in Niles following a brief illness. She was born Aug. 30, 1935 in Niles to Fred and Myrtle (Hipshier) Shepardson.

Kay Margaret Hartman

Kay was a 1953 graduate of Niles High School and a member of the “53 Club.” She was a secretary for the Kawneer Company in Niles where she met her husband, Donald Hartman. They were married Sept. 8, 1956 in Niles and soon after started their family. Kay enjoyed baking, traveling and camping with her family and was most proud of her grandchildren. She was a member of the Beta Sigma Phi sorority since 1967.

Surviving family includes two daughters, Shelley Bell of Koontz Lake, Indiana and Karen (& Mike) Treadway of Mishawaka; two sons, Mark (Sherri) Hartman of Niles and Steven (Kaye) Hartman of Glendale, California; six grandchildren, Christina Frank, Nicholas Hartman, Brienna Bell, Tristan Bell, Jackson Treadway and Reese Hartman; great-grandson Morgan Frank and Kay’s twin sister, Fay Richards of Niles.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of over 50 years, Donald, who died on Dec. 17, 2006 as well as by her brothers, Roy Shepardson, Dale Shepardson and Max Shepardson.

The funeral service for Kay Margaret Hartman will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday, April 20, 2015, at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with Pastor Donald Fleischman officiating. Interment will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 2-4 p.m. on Sunday, April 19, 2015, at the funeral home. Donations in memory of Kay may be made to the organization of donor’s choice.

Arrangements were made at the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, Michigan.

www.halbritterfunerals.com