Obituaries

Susan Marie Smith
July 4, 1963-Feb. 11, 2023

Niles Daily Star, Published online 12:58 pm Wednesday, February 15, 2023

 Miss Susan Marie Smith, age 59 years, formerly of Niles, Michigan, daughter, sister, aunt, swimmer, singer, and proud Chippewa died at 9:46 a.m. on Saturday, Feb.11, 2023, with her brother at her side at Saint Joseph Plymouth Medical Center in Plymouth, Indiana following a brief illness. Her family is grateful for the kind and compassionate care provided by the staff of Miller’s Merry Manor in Culver. She was born on the Fourth of July, 1963, at 10:14 p.m. — while the fireworks were exploding outside of Pawating Hospital in Niles — to John W. and Joann C. (Pomeroy) Smith. She began her education at the former Electric Light School of Niles Community Schools before transferring to the Blossomland Learning Center in Berrien Springs, Michigan. She was also employed at Gateway Services in Berrien Springs. Susan was an enrolled member of the Sault Saint Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. She has always enjoyed singing, quickly learning and accurately — and often — reprising every song taught in school. Later, she became a fan of the late singer and songwriter known as John Denver from whom her favorite song was “Take Me Home, Country Roads.” She was also a fan of the television shows “Sesame Street” and “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood.” She had a unique skill — shared with her mother — of completing jigsaw puzzles, being able to select a piece from the box and identify exactly where it fits in the big picture. Her favorite pastime was swimming, often at the YMCA, but also in area lakes and ponds, and anywhere that had a suitable body of water. And whether swimming, singing, or solving puzzles, she always had a great smile. She was sadly preceded in death by her beloved father, John Smith who died too young in 1979 at only 40 years old. Surviving family includes her mother, Joann C. Smith of Saint Ignace, Michigan; Susan’s siblings, Cheri Hartline of Dowagiac, Michigan, Steven Smith of Centreville, Michigan, and Rick (& Marsie) Smith and Timothy (& Maxine) Smith, both of Niles; and many nieces and nephews of several generations. The Catholic Liturgy for Susan Smith will be read at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023, at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home, 615 East Main Street in Niles, by Deacon Roger Gregorski of Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception Parish in Niles. Committal Rites will follow at the Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles. Relatives and friends wishing to participate online may do so via the livestream on the Halbritter-Wickens Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/halbritterwickensfuneralservices/. Online condolences may be left at: www.halbritterwickens.com Susan clearly loved life in a manner that very few of us can truly understand, enjoying the activities in which she participated, and offering a genuine smile to everyone around her. That smile continues in our memory, and in that heaven which Jesus said ” . . . belongs to such as . . . Susan.”

Read more at: https://www.leaderpub.com/2023/02/15/susan-m-smith/

Myrtle Marie Bradford
Jan. 1, 1899-March 27, 1957

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Wednesday, March 27, 1957, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs Myrtle Marie Bradford, 58, of 1107 North Eighth Street, native of Berrien County, died at 6 a.m. Today in her home following an illness of several years.

Mrs. Bradford, was born Jan. 1, 1899, in Niles Township and had lived her entire life in this community, where she was a member of Franklin AME Church.

Surviving are: her husband, Andrew; a daughter, Mrs. Genevieve James, of Buchanan; six grandchildren, a brother, Herman Griffin, of Niles, and a sister, Mrs. Ina Coker, of Detroit.

Friends may call at the Kiger-Halbritter Funeral Home, where arrangements are incomplete.

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Thursday, March 28, 1957, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

FUNERAL RITES SET

Funeral rites for Mrs. Myrtle M. Bradford, 58, of 1107 North Eighth Street, who died Wednesday were set today for Saturday at 2 p.m., in the Franklin AME Church with Rev. M.F. Traylor officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

The body is at the Kiger-Halbritter Funeral Home.

Helen M. Collins
Feb. 24, 1823-March 16, 1901

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Wednesday, March 27, 1901, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

DIED LAST NIGHT
Mrs. Benj. Y Collins Passed Away at Grand Rapids

Mrs. Ellen M. Collins, widow of the later Benjamin Y. Collins, died at 10 o'clock last night in Grand Rapids at the home of her son, Wm. B. Collins, of apoplexy, aged 78 years.

Mrs. Collins had made her home with her son in Grand Rapids since the death of her husband, which occurred fifteen months ago. She was one of the oldest residents of Niles having lived here continuously for 55 years during which time she endeared herself to many warm friends, who will greatly regret her death. She was a devout member of the Episcopal church.

The remains will be brought here tomorrow at 1 o'clock and will be conveyed at once to Silver Brook cemetery. Rev. C.J. DeCoux of Trinity church will conduct services at the grave.

Note: Michigan Death Certificate and cemetery records have name recorded as “Helen”.

Arabelle Cullom
Nov. 6, 1874-March 27, 1957

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Wednesday, March 27, 1957, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

SUMNERVILLE—Mrs. Arabelle Cullom, 82, of Sumnerville, died at 9:30 a.m. today on arrival . . .[illegible] . . .home. She had been in poor health for a number of years.

Mrs. Collum [sic] was born Nov. 6, 1874, in Warren County, Mo., and had lived in this community for the past 30 years. Surviving are: a daughter, Mrs. Keith Elmore, of Sumnerville; a son, Wilson Cullom, of Niles; four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Pifer Funeral Home with the Rev. Paul Aurand, pastor of Wood Memorial Bible Church, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles. Friends may call at the funeral home beginning Thursday.

Oscar Curtis
Sept. 29, 1890-March 9, 1957

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Monday, March 11, 1957, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Oscar Curtis, 66, of Kankakee, Ill, formerly of Niles, died Saturday in Kankakee following an illness of several years.

Mr. Curtis was born Sept. 29, 1890, in Niles and had lived here until 1928, when he moved to Kankakee. While in Niles he made his home with an aunt, Mrs. R.W. Gully, of 516 Cass Street. His wife preceded him in death.

Also surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Lois Clark of Dayton, O.; three grandchildren; a sister, Mrs. Percy Gay, of Niles and a brother, Harold Finley, also of Niles.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday in the Kiger-Halbritter Funeral Home. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home beginning Tuesday noon.

Mr. Curtis was a member of the Lutheran Church of Kankakee.

Kimela Sue Fitz
March 23, 1957-March 25, 1957

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Tuesday, March 26, 1957, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

DEATH OF AN INFANT

Committal services for the infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Fitz of 52250 North Oaklawn Avenue, South Bend, who died at 4 p.m. Monday at South Bend Osteopathic Hospital, were conducted at 3 o'clock this afternoon at Silverbrook Cemetery. The Rev. Clarence Pederson, pastor of the First Assembly of God Church of Niles, officiated.

The baby was born March 23 at the South Bend hospital. Survivors beside the parents are the paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Fitz of South Bend . [illegible] . and maternal grandparents, Vernon Reid and Mrs. [illegible] of Niles.