Josephine Butler
Oct. 15, 1913-March 26, 1974

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, March 26, 1974, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Mrs. Josephine B. Butler, 60, 405 Dey St., died at 2:15 a.m. Tuesday in Memorial Hospital, South Bend, after an illness of several months.

Born Oct. 15, 1913, in Niles, Mrs. Butler had lived here all her life. Her husband, Lyne W. Butler, survives.

Also surviving are a son, David L. Butler of South Bend and three brothers, Earl Fowler of Niles, Phillips Fowler of Mishawaka and LeRoy Fowler of Midland.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m Thursday in the Halbritter Fuernal Home, with the Rev. Thomas P. Jones of the Maranatha Baptist Church of Mishawaka officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 2 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

Florence B. Coleman
July 28, 1898-Oct. 7, 1968

Niles Daily Star, Monday, October 7, 1968, page 14, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

BUCHANAN--Mrs. Florence B. Coleman, 70, of 425 Fulton St., died at 1:30 a.m. today in Buchanan Community Hospital. She had been ill for a year.

Mrs. Coleman was born July 28, 1898 in Bangor, Mich. She moved to Buchanan from Niles 40 years ago.

Mrs. Coleman is survived by her husband, Ora: one son, George Curtis of California; one daughter,  Mrs. Betty Rupert, Germany; one brother, Fred Curtis of Niles; three sisters, Mrs. Lila Makepeace and Mrs. Elizabeth Coon, both of Niles and Mrs.  Ila Chestine of Allegan; and three grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 3:30 p.m Wednesday in the Pifer Funeral Home with Rev. Ray Cunningham of the First Baptist Church officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home after 7 p.m today.

Tracey Dickey
Feb. 16, 1893-Jan. 7, 1974

Niles Daily Star, Monday, January 7, 1974, page 2, col. 7-8, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Tracey Dickey, 80, of 3303 N. Fifth St., died at 8:40 this morning in Pawating Hospital after a two-weeks illness.

A retired farmer, Mr. Dickey was born Feb. 16, 1893, in Niles, and had lived here all his life.  On March 15, 1922, in Niles, he married the former Ruth Frantz, who survives.

Mrs. Dickey was a member of the Morris Chapel Methodist Church and the Farm Bureau.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Dickey is survived by a son, John F. of Niles; three daughters, Mrs. Donald (Elaine) Shipe of Livonia and Mrs. Lawrence (Eleanor) Domnoske and Mrs. Robert (Mary) Hall, both of Niles; a sister, Mrs. Ione Wyant of Niles, and 11 grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Halbritter Funeral Home, with the Rev. Kenneth L. Snow of the Morris Chapel United Methodist Church officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 4 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

Mary K. Drennan
Jan. 12, 1953-March 22, 2004

Niles Daily Star,  Monday, March 22, 2004, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Mary Drennan, 51, of N. 16th Street in Niles, died on Monday, March 22, at 12:35 a.m. at Hospice House in South Bend, Ind., following an illness.

Arrangements are pending and being completed by Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

Niles Daily Star,  Wednesday, March 24, 2004, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library*

Funeral services for Mary K. Drennan, 51, of N. 16th street in Niles, are Thursday, March 25 at 7 p.m. at Wesley United Methodist Church with the Rev. Emmett H. Kadwell, Jr., of Wesley Untied Methodist Church officiating.

Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Drennan died on Monday at 12:35 a.m. at Hospice House in South Bend. Ind.

She was born on Jan. 12, 1953 in Niles. She had lived in Niles all of her life, graduating from Niles High School in 1971. She was employed by the Fifth District Court for 14 years. On May 28, 1977 in Niles, she was married to Michael W. Drennan, who survives.

Drennan was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church where she enjoyed the fellowship of Bible studies and other activities, the congregation feeling like extended family.  She enjoyed reading material of many interests and scrapbooking and spending time with her family.

Survivors include a son, Mathew M. (and Becky) Drennan  of Indianapolis, Ind.; a granddaughter, Avery Elizabeth Drennan; her father, Kenneth F. Velte of Niles; two sisters, Beverly Herren of Lafayette, Ind., and Julie Lear of Niles. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Tara Thomas on June 3, 1976; her mother, Betty Velte on June 18, 1989.

Visitation will be an hour prior to services at Wesley United Methodist Church.

Memorial contributions may be made to Wesley United Methodist Church or Hospice House, c/o Hospice of St. Joseph County.

Arrangements were handled by Halbritter Funeral Home.

*Obituary was originally published in Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, March 23, page 2, col. 1 and was republished with corrections on Wednesday.

Thomas Lee Droke
Aug. 6, 1968-Oct. 28, 1968

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, October 29, 1968, page 14, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Thomas Lee Droke, the two-month-old son of Mrs. Lynda Droke, of 1112 Ontario Road, was pronounced dead on arrrival to Pawating Hospital at 2 :45 p.m. Monday.

Thomas was born Aug. 6, 1968 in Niles.  He is survived by his mother and grandparents, Mrs. Gertrude Collard and Mr. Joseph Collard, both of Niles.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday in the  Pifer Funeral Home with the Rev. Larry Whiteford, pastor of the Fulkerson Park Baptist Church, officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home.

Alice M. Drouillard
Nov. 21, 1911-March 16, 1974

Niles Daily Star, Monday, March 18, 1974, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Mrs. Alice M. Drouillard, 62, of 2330 E. Main St., died at 11:03 a.m. Saturday in Pawating Hospital after an illness of two days.

A retired bookkeeper, Mrs. Drouillard was born Nov. 21, 1911, in Wisconsin, and had lived here since 1953, coming from Detroit. Her husband, Raymond, died in 1940.

Surviving are a son, Robert F. Cassube of Keena, H.H. ; a daughter, Miss Alice Marie Cassube of Niles; her mother, Mrs. Sarah Matthews of Niles; and three grandchildren.

Funeral servcies wil be held at 1 p.m Tuesday in the Halbritter Funeral Home, with the Rt. Rev. Msgr. John D. Slowey of St. Mary's Catholic Church officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home.