Obituaries

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.

Christina Lynd Dunnem
April 22, 1973-March 19, 1974

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, March 20, 1974, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Christina Lynd Dunnem, 11-months-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Anthony L. Dunnem, 14 Briar Crest Ln., died at 7:50 a.m. Tuesday in Pawating Hospital.

Christina was born April 22, 1973, in Niles.

In addition to her parents, Christina is survived by her maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Laurence Burns of Niles; her paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Owens of Niles; her maternal great-grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Casper Burns of Niles, Mr. and Mrs. William Schwartz of Midland and Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Haslanger of Niles, and her maternal great-great-grandmother, Mrs. Clara Schwartz of Midland.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday in the Pifer chapel of the Swem-Smith Funeral Home, with the Rev. Virgil Stauffer of the Union Protestant Church of Dailey officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 7 tonight at the funeral home.

Mildred A. Freeland
Nov. 28, 1904-Jan. 14, 1974

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, January 15, 1974, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Mrs. Mildred A. Freeland, 69, of 1316 Hickory st., died at 4:55 p.m. Monday in Pawating Hospital, after an illness of one day.

A retired employe of the Michigan Bell Telephone Co., Mrs. Freeland was born Nov. 28, 1904, in Chicago, and had lived here since 1916.  On May 29, 1943, in Niles, she married August D. Freeland, who died in 1967.

Mrs. Freeland was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church and the St. Catherine Guild of the church.

Survivors include a stepson, Parker Freeland of Burbank, Calif.; a daughter, Mrs. Ethel Hutchens of Richmond, Ind.; a stepdaughter, Mrs. Lorraine Roth of Lake Odessa, Mich., two grandchildren and two great-grantchildren[sic].

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday in the 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.