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.

Vandenburg, Edward D.

editor Obituaries

Edward D. Vandenburg
Feb. 20, 1912-April 7, 1944

Niles Daily Star, Friday, April 7, 1944, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

E.D. VANDENBURG TAKEN BY DEATH

Edward D. Vandenburg, 32, of 316 Cedar street, died in the Berrien county hospital this morning at 6:00 after an illness of five years.  This condition became critical three weeks ago. He was born Feb. 20, 1912 in Othello, Wash., and has lived in Niles almost all of his life. Prior to his illness he was employed in the grocery department of the National Tea company.

Surviving are his mother, Mrs. Verne Vandenburg; a son, Thomas; two brothers, Fred and Marion Vandenburg, and a sister, Margaret Vandenburg, all of Niles.

Friends may call in the Rutherford funeral home.

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, April 8, 1944, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

VANDENBURG SERVICE

Funeral for Edward D. Vandenburg, 32, of 316 Cedar street, who died Friday, will be conducted Monday afternoon at 2:30 in the Rutherford funeral home by the Rev. J. Kenneth Hoffmaster, pastor of the First Methodist church.

Niles Daily Star, Monday, April 10, 1944, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

COUSINS ASSIST

Pallbearers for the funeral of Edward D. Vandenburg, 32, of 316 Cedar street, who died Friday were six cousins優onald Walsh, Benton Harbor; Harold Vandenburg, Lawrence Kesterke, Vernon Vandenburg, William Forbes, and William Schlosser, all of Niles. Services were conducted in the Rutherford funeral home by the Rev.  J. Kenneth Hoffmaster. Burial was in Silverbrook cemetery.

Brown, Harvey L. Jr.

editor Obituaries

Harvey L. Brown Jr.
Oct. 20, 1962-March 8, 1963

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, March 6, 1963, page 2, col. 1-2, microfilm Niles District Library

Harvey L. Brown Jr., five-month old son of Mr. and Mrs. Harvey L. Brown Sr., 1009 Sycamore St., died at 6:30 p.m. Friday at home.  He had been ill since Tuesday.

Other survivors include a brother, Leonard, at home; paternal grandparents Mr. and Mrs. Waldo Brown, Niles; and maternal grandparents Mrs. Helen Wilke, Mishawaka, and William Wilke, Michigan City.

Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Monday in the Pifer Funeral Home. The Rev. John P. MacLachlan, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, will officiate.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends are being received at the funeral home.

Christeon, Maud

editor Obituaries

Maud Christeon
1891-March 21, 1963

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, March 21, 1963, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Miss Maud Christeon, 71, a resident of Berrien County, died at 5:30 a.m. Today in the Oak grove Manor Nursing Home, where she had been a patient since Feb. 25.

Prayer services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Kiger Funeral Home. The Rev. Orlen L. Njus, pastor of the Bertrand Bible church, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends will be received at the funeral home Friday.

*Grave Search and Silverbrook listing has this as Chriteon but death record has name as Christeon.

Garner, Lydia

editor Obituaries

Lydia Garner
Sept. 18, 1877-March 28, 1963

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, March 28, 1963, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Lydia Garner, 86, formerly of 1629 Cedar St., died at 6:30 a.m. today at the River Rest Nursing Home in Defiance, Ohio. She had been in ill health for some time. She was born Sept. 18, 1877.

She is survived by two sons, Ralph, Grand Rapids, and Edward, Newark, N.J., and two grandchildren.

The body will be brought to the Pifer Funeral Home, where arrangements are incomplete.

Niles Daily Star, Friday, March 29, 1963, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

SERVICES SET

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Pifer Funeral Home for Mrs. Lydia Garner, 86, who died yesterday at 6:30 a.m. in Defiance, Ohio.

She is survived by two sons and two grandchildren.

Mrs. Garner was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and the Order of Eastern Star.

The Rev. John P. MacLachlan, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, will officiate.

Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, friends may call after 7 p.m. today at the Pifer Funeral Home.

Goff, Inez

editor Obituaries

Inez Goff
Feb. 27, 1892-Dec. 26, 1963

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, December 28, 1963, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Mrs. Inez Goff, 71, of 1816 Bertrand road, will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday in  the Seventh -day Adventist Church here Elder John Kroncke of South Bend will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

She died Thursday in Pawating Hospital where she had been a patient two months. She had been in ill health a year.

Mrs. Goff was born Feb. 27, 1892, in Huntington, Ind. She came to Niles from St. Joseph 20 years ago.

Survivors include her husband William; four sons, Gene Cross, San Diego, Calif., Charles Cross, Denton, Tex., Edward Cross, Cassopolis, And Albert cross, South Bend; seven daughters, Mrs. All Kanarr and Mrs. Ralph Syson, both of South Bend, Mrs. Henry Rutkowski, Granger, Ind., Mrs. Clayton Goff, Marcellus, Mrs. Francis Dennis, Benton Harbor, Mrs. William Spencer, Niles and Mrs. Frank Taylor, Mishawaka; a brother, Roy Squires, Detroit; two sisters, Mrs. Axel Nielson, South Haven, and Mrs. Lois Chapman, Bridgman; 25 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren.

She was a member of the South Bend Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Friends are being received at the Pifer Funeral Home.

Gorton, Mary E.

editor Obituaries

Mary E. Gorton
Feb. 20, 1875-March 28, 1963

Niles Daily Star, Friday, March 29, 1963, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs.  Mary E. Gorton, 88, formerly of 1222 Broadway, died at 10:50 p.m.  Thursday in a hospital in Toledo, Ohio.

She was born in Cass County, Feb. 20, 1875, and had lived in this area all her life.  Mr. Gorton died in 1930.

She is survived by her four daughters, Mrs. Charlotte Emmerson, Mishawaka; Mrs. Beatrice Stacey, Lake Side Calif.; Mrs. Beulah Casner, Los Angeles, Calif.; Mrs. Edith Almstead, Toledo, Ohio; one son, Howard G. of Milford; 10 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren, and one sister, Mrs. Lora Hicks, Kalamazoo.

Funeral Services will be held at the Pifer Funeral Home at 2 p.m .Monday, Dr. Maurice McKean, pastor of the First Methodist Church, will officiate.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after noon at the funeral home.

Graham, Etta Edwards (Bowerman)

editor Obituaries

Etta Edwards Graham (Bowerman)
March 18, 1863-Nov. 10, 1953

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, November 12, 1953, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Etta Edwards Graham, 90, formerly of Niles, died Wednesday at Kalamazoo. She had been ill for eight or ten years.

Surviving are one sister, Mrs. Mae Murphy, of Berrien Center, and one brother, Floyd Bowerman, of South Bend.

Sevices[sic] will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Note: DOB from Michigan Death Records

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