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, Josephine E.

Josephine E. Pierce
April 9, 1933-March 23, 2004


Niles Daily Star,  Thursday, March 25, 2004, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library


Funeral service for Josephine E. Pierce, 70, of Woodruff Street in Niles, are Monday, March 29 at 2 p.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home with Pastor Barbara Wirt of Westminster Presbyterian Church officiating.

Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Pierce died on Tuesday at 11:20 a.m. at Lakeland Hospital.

She was born on April 9, 1933, in Valdese, N.C. She had lived in the Niles area since 1962, coming from Salisbury, Md.  She was retired from nursing in 1977 following 14 years at Healthwin Specialized Care in South Bend.  She was a member of Westminster Church and served in the U.S. Air Force as a nurse while stationed in Japan. She volunteered at Fernwood Botanical Gardens and enjoyed arts and crafts, sewing and gardening.

Survivors include a brother, James V. Sciscenti of Roswell, N.M., and close friends Marcia and Larry Moore of Niles. She was preceded in death by a brother, Frank Sciscenti in 1988.

Visitation will be an hour prior to services.

Memorial contributions may be made to Fernwood Botanical Gardens.

Funeral arrangements were handled by Halbritter Funeral Home.

 

 

Webster, Milo C.

Milo C. Webster
June 10, 1892-Jan. 7, 1974


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, January 8, 1974, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library


NILES--Milo C. Webster, 81, of 1974 Lewis Dr., died at 8:40 p.m. Monday in the Paul Stephan Nursing Home after an illness of several weeks.

A retired foreman for Clark Equipment Co., Buchanan, Mr. Webster was born June 10, 1892, in Niles Township, and had lived here all his life.  On May 25, 1918, in St. Joseph, he married the former Thelma L. McKee, who survives.

Mr. Webster was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church of Niles and was a World War I veteran.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Webster is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Vivian Zaseck of Mishawaka; a sister, Mrs. Myrtle Vogelsang of Niles and one grandchild.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday in Trinity Episcopal Church, with the Rev. Vincent J. Anderson officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 4 p.m. Wednesday at the Halbritter Funeral Home.

Memorials may be given to the church memorial fund.

 

 

 

Young, Betty M.

Betty M. Young
Apr. 27, 1930-July 3, 2002


Niles Daily Star, Friday, July 5, 2002, page 2, col. 2-3, microfilm Niles District Library


Betty M. Young of 553 Grant Street in Niles died at 4:08 a.m. on Wednesday, July 3 at Lakeland Medical Center following a brief illness. She was 72 years-old.

Young was born on April 27, 1930 to Thomas Miller and Pearl Roper in Boston, Ga. She lived in Niles after coming from Boston in 1943. She was married to Fred Young on November 12, 1949 in Niles.

Young was the co-manager of Picker's Paradise Antique Mall in Niles.

She was also the former secretary to John Wood of Clark Equipment Co. and acted as property manger of rental units owned with her husband from 1986 through 1991.

Young owned Bower Manufacturing of Elkhart, which specialized in custom bird houses. After selling it, they moved to Buchanan for two years.

Young was the treasurer of Triple A Associates, a manufacturer of agricultural vents for environmental control, worked in Lansing for 16 years at an advertising agency and assisted wtih catering at Michiana Party Hall.

Young was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Lansing, First Presbyterian Church in Niles and Lansing Elks.

The Youngs enjoyed spending time in the Upper Peninsula and Northern Michigan.

Young's surviving relatives include her husband Fred Young; one daughter, Christina Young of Roscommon, Mich.; one sone[sic], Robert Young of Marquette, Mich.; four brothers, Roy Miller of Niles, Dr. Thomas Alan Miller of Murraysville, Penn., Rev. Henry Miller of Tremont, Ill. and Herbert Miller of Statesville, NC; and one granddaughter, Katherine Young.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 6 at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.  Rev. Dr. Ronald H. Wakeman of First Presbyterian Church will be officiating the service and burial will take place at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Friends may call from 1 to 4 p.m. on Friday at the funeral home, and memorials can be given to the Foundation of First Presbyterian Church.

Clarke, Charles V.

Charles V. Clarke
Feb. 18, 1905-Feb. 14, 1974

Niles Daily Star, Friday, February 15, 1974, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library


NILES--Charles V. Clarke, 69, of 1634 Sycamore St., died at 2 p.m. Thursday at 8 N. St. Joseph St.

A retired pressman for Simplicity Pattern Co., Mr. Clarke was born Feb. 18, 1905, in Brooklyn, N.Y., and had lived here since 1936. On Nov. 22, 1927, in Brooklyn, he married the former Helen M. Becker, who survives.

Also surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Gertrude Wallace and Mrs. Patricia Rockhill, both of Niles; a sister, Mrs. Alice White of Long Island, N.Y.; seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday in the Pifer Chapel of the Swem-Smith Funeral Home, with the Rev. Fr. Francis E. Timmons of St. Mark's Catholic Church officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 7 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.

 

Cox, Aaron Jon

Aaron Jon Cox
Oct. 23, 1972-Feb. 9, 1974


Niles Daily Star, Thursday, February 14, 1974, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Aaron Jon Cox, one-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Cox, 1889 Baldwin Dr., died Saturday in Lajes Field Hospital, Azores, Portugal, where his father was stationed with the U.S. Air Force.

He was born Oct. 23, 1972, in Midwest City, Okla.

In addition to his father, Aaron is survived by his mother, Deborah; his paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Don Cox of Niles; his maternal grandparents, Mr.and Mrs. William Taylor of Houston, Tex.; his paternal great-grandfather, H.W. Gallaway of Niles, and maternal great-grandmother, Mrs. Russell Granblett of Cashocton, Ohio, and his brother, Kenneth James III, at home.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in the Pifer Chapel of Swem-Smith Funeral Home, with the Rev. Irvine Nussdorfe of Westminister Presbyterian Church officiating. Burial will be in Silverbook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.



Niles Daily Star, Friday, February 15, 1974, page 2, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Funeral serfices[sic] for Aaron Jon Cox, one-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Cox, 1889 Baldwin Dr., who did Saturday in Lajes Field Hosptial, Azores, Portugal, have been rescheduled for 1:30 p.m. Monday at the Pifer Chapel of the Swem-Smith Funeral Home, with the Rev. Irvine Nuddsorfe of Westminster Presbyterian Church official.

Friends may call after noon Sunday.

 

Gessinger, Virginia (Cox)

Virginia Gessinger
June 5, 1915-Jan. 26, 1974


Niles Daily Star, Monday, January 28, 1974, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Mrs. Virginia Gessinger, 58, of 1332 Hickory St., died at 10:28 p.m. Saturday in Memorial Hospital, South Bend, after an extended illness.

Born June 5, 1915, in Jamestown,Ind., Mrs. Gessinger had lived here all her life.  On Jan. 19, 1950, in Edwardsburg, she married Joe E. Gessinger St., who survives.

Also surviving are two sons, William Gents and Joe Gessinger Jr., both of Niles; a daughter, Mrs. Nancy Struble of Niles; a sister, Mrs. Gloria Walters of Niles, four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Halbritter Funeral Home, with the Rev. Donald A. Cozadd of Grace United Methodist Church officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home.

Memorials may be given to the Berrien County Cancer Service.



Grimes, James R.

James R. Grimes
Dec. 29, 1912-Feb. 9, 1974


Niles Daily Star, Monday, February 11, 1974, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library


MISHAWAKA--James R. Grimes, 61, of Mishawaka, formerly of Niles, died Saturday morning in the Cardinal Nursing Home, South Bend, after an extended illness.

Born Dec. 29, 1912, in Chicago, Mr. Grimes came to Niles in 1916. He was a graduate of Niles High School and a World War II veteran. His wife, the former Louise Seely, died in 1970.

Survivors include a son, Kenneth J. Grimes, and a daughter, Mrs. Michael (Janis) Smith, both of Mishawaka; two brothers, Thomas of South Bend and Franklin of Littleton, Colo.; four sisters, Mrs. Fred (Ruth) Cook of Niles, Mrs. Gwendolyn McDade of Los Angeles, Calif., Mrs. Charles H. (Carolyn) Baldwin of Irvine, Calif., and Mrs. John W. (Betty) Barry of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and three grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday in St. Monica's Church, Mishawaka, with burial in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

The Bobb Funeral Home is in charge of funeral arrangements.