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.

Hadsell, Phillip A. Jr.

Phillip A. Hadsell, Jr.
May 22, 1926-Feb. 24, 2008

Niles Daily Star, Published 10:07am Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Phillip A. Hadsell, Jr., 81, of Laurel Drive, Niles, died at 7:27 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 24, 2008, at Lakeland Community Hospital, Niles, following a brief illness.
Funeral services for Mr. Hadsell, will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 4, at Trinity Episcopal Church, Niles with the Rev. James Slack officiating.
Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.
He was born on May 22, 1926, in South Bend, Ind. to Phillip A. and Thelma (Nauman) Hadsell. He lived in this area all of his life, graduating from Niles High School in 1944.
He joined the United States Army Air Corps and after the war continued his education attending the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He earned the Juris Doctorate from the University of Notre Dame Law School.
Hadsell began his career as a lawyer in 1951 at the firm of Burns &Hadsell in Niles, joining his father who served as a judge of the Circuit Court from 1954 until 1967. The firm continues in Niles as Hadsell, Landgraf, Lynch &Drew.
Mr. Hadsell, Jr. was a member of the Berrien County Bar Association, serving two terms as president. He was also a member of the Michigan State Bar Association, serving on its Board of Commissioners in 1968. He was a member of the state bar's Grievance Board and a member of the Michigan State Bar Foundation.
He was a life-long member of Trinity Episcopal Church of Niles. He had been a member of the Niles-Buchanan Club of Rotary International since 1951, serving as president in 1989 and was a Paul Harris Fellow.
He was also a member of the B.P.O. of Niles Elks, Lodge No. 1322.
Hadsell has served the community as president of the Niles-Buchanan YMCA board of directors, a former member of the Niles District Library board and as a director of the Hunter Foundation.
On Dec. 27, 1966, in Niles, he married the former Marcella A. Hocking, who survives.
Additional surviving family includes his children, P. Alan (Carol) Hadsell III of Loveland, Ohio, Margie (Ron) Hojara-Hadsell of Lawrence, Wally-John (Mary) Hadsell of New Port Richey, Fla. and Matthew Hiram Hadsell, also of New Port Richey, Fla.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Thelma Hadsell in 1966 and by his father, the Honorable Phillip Hadsell in 1977.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Niles District Library, 620 E. Main St., Niles, MI 49120.
Arrangements were by Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

Hadsell, Marcella (Hocking)

Marcella Hadsell, 81
June 8, 1931-Oct. 10, 2012

Niles Daily Star, Published online 4:07pm Sunday, October 14, 2012

Marcella Ann “Cel” Hadsell, 81, of Niles, died at 12:45 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2012, at her home following a brief illness.

She was born June 8, 1931, in Chicago, to John and Marcella (Arnold) Hocking, and attended Northwestern University. She was a member of the Ladies Historical Society of Niles.

Marcella married Wally Statkus, who preceded her in death in 1962. On Dec. 27, 1966, in Niles, she married Philip A. Hadsell, who preceded her in death on Feb. 24, 2008. She was also preceded in death by a son, Wally Hadsell, in July 2012.

Surviving family includes her son, Matthew H. Hadsell of Niles; a stepdaughter, Margie (Ron) Hojara-Hadsell of Holt; and a stepson Philip (Carol) Alan Hadsell III of Loveland, Ohio.

The family will be gathering privately for services with interment at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Contributions in memory of Cel Hadsell may be made to the Hope Rescue Mission of South Bend or to the Salvation Army of Niles.

Arrangements were made at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

Edwards, Darlene (Cates)

Darlene Edwards
March 15, 1946-Aug. 8, 1970


Niles Daily Star, Monday, August 17, 1970, page 2, col.4, microfilm Niles District Library


NILES--Mrs. Darlene Edwards, 24, of 902 Michigan St., died at 2:15 a.m. Saturday at Pawating Hospital after a brief illness.

Employed in the dietary kitchen of Pawating Hospital, Mrs. Edwards was born March 15, 1946, in South Bend, and had lived in this area most of her life.

Mrs. Edwards is survived by her parents, Mr.and Mrs. Richard Cates of DeLand, Fla.; a daughter, Jodie, at home; five brothers, Derrel and Dennis Cates of Niles; Dean Cates of South Bend, Richard Cates Jr. and South Haven and Don Cates of Evansville, Ind.; and a sister Mrs. Dawn Schecter of Fort Worth, Tex.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday in the Pifer Funeral Home, with the Rev. Richard Fisher of the South Side Church of the Nazarrene of Mishawaka officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

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

 

Halton, Patty Ann

Patty Ann Halton
June 2, 1970-July 26, 1970


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, July 28, 1970, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles--Patty Ann Holton, seven-weeks-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Halton of Harbor Hights, Tex., died Sunday morning in Harbor Hights Hospital, where she was born June 2.

Survivors, in addition to her parents, include her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Halton of Toledo, Ohio; her great-grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Halton of Toledo, Ohio; her great-grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Makepeace of Niles and Mr. and Mrs. Vere Arand of Phoenix, Ariz., and a sister, Joyce Anne, at home.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday in the Pifer Funeral Home, with the Rev. Ray Cunningham of the First Baptist Church officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call beginning Wednesday evening at the funeral home.


Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, July 29, 1970, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library


Niles--Funeral services for Patty Ann Halton will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Pifer Funeral Home. The seven-weeks-old daughter of Mr.and Mrs. John Halton, died at Harker Heights, Tex., Sunday.

Survivors include her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Halton of Toledo, Ohio; great-grandmother, Mrs. Harold Makepeace of Niles; grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Vere Aurand of Cottonwood, Ariz., and a sister, Joyce.

The Rev. Ray Cunningham of the First Baptist Church will officiate and burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.  Friends may call at the funeral home beginning this evening.

 

Hoover, William H.

William H. Hoover
June 15, 1860-Jan. 4, 1940


Niles Daily Star, Friday, January 5, 1940, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library


W.H. Hoover, 79, Ill Four Years, Taken by Death

 

William H. Hoover, 79, who came to Niles from Indiana 32 years ago, died Thursday night in the home of his daughter, Mrs. Andrew Norman, three and a half miles southeast of Niles.

Mr. Hoover had been ill four years. Until illness prevented further activity, he had been a farmer nearly all his life.

He was born in St. Joseph county, Indiana, June 15, 1860, and was married Aug. 22, 1885, to Mary A. Ernsperger, of Buchanan.  Mrs. Hoover survives, also two sons, Albert C., South Bend, and Henry, at home; and two daughters, Mrs. Norman and Mrs. Vincent Smith, Route 4.

The body was taken to the Price and Kiger funeral home where services will be held Monday afternoon at 2.  Friends may call at the family home until noon Monday.

 

Johnston, Maude R.

Maude R. Johnston
Jan. 18, 1898-Aug. 26, 1981


Niles Daily Star, Thursday, August 27, 1981, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Maude R. Johnston, 83, of 819 N. 13th St., Niles, died at 7:05 p.m. Wednesday following an extended illness.

A member of the Wesley United Methodist Church, she was born Jan. 18, 1898 in Olinda, Ontario, and came to Niles in 1962 from Phoenix, Ariz.

She married Simeon O. Johnston on May 24, 1917 in Windsor, Ontario. He died in 1976.

Survivors include a daughter, Miriam M. Johnston of Niles, and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Friday at Silverbrook Cemetery. The Rev. Mark D. Graham of Wesley United Methodist Church will officiate.

Friends may call after 3 p.m .Thursday at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

 

Lewis, Lela

Lela Lewis
Nov. 17, 1911-Aug. 25, 1981


Niles Daily Star, Friday, August 28, 1981, page 2, col. 7-8, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Lela Lewis, 69, of 2787 Detroit Rd., Niles, died at 11:15 p.m. Tuesday at Pawating Hospital in Niles.

A homemaker, she was a member of the Order of Eastern Star and Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Niles.

She was born Nov. 17, 1911 in Arkansas and had lived here since 1944. She married the late Lawrence Lewis in Arkansas in 1940.

Survivors include a son, William Lewis of Chicago; two brothers, three sisters; one grandchild  and two great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Mount Calvery Baptist Church. Pastor W.L. Daniel will officiate.

Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at the church from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. the day of the service. The Hoven Funeral Home of Buchanan is in charge of arrangements.