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.

Carter, Martha Ellen (Hall)

Martha Ellen (Hall) Carter
July 7, 1862-Oct. 25, 1916


Niles Daily Sun, Wednesday, October 25, 1916, page 1, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

MRS. WILLIAM CARTER DIED THIS MORNING

Her Death Followed Illness of Three Years' Duration

 

Mrs. Martha Hall Carter, wife of William Carter, died this morning at her home, 306 South Twelfth street, after an illness that has extended over a period of three years.

Mrs. Carter was born in Dayton, Mich., 54 years ago. She has practically spent all her life in Niles and was well known and highly respected here.

She is survived by her husband and five children. The latter are Frank and William Carter of New Carlisle, Mrs. Melvin Bybee, Mrs. Elizabeth Jay and Mrs. Lizzie Williams of Niles. Two children preceded their mother in death.  A sister, Mrs. Nancy Chapman of Niles and a brother, Frank Hall of Buchanan, also survive.

The funeral services will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2 :30 o'clock from the residence. Rev. Lewis of the Methodist church will officiate. Interment will occur at Silver Brook cemetery.

 

Williams, Lucinda

Lucinda Williams
Jan. 12, 1866-Oct. 26, 1916


Niles Daily Sun, Thursday, October 26, 1916, page 1, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

DIES AFTER OPERATION

Mrs. John R. Williams, Well-Known Niles Lady, Submitted to Operation in Chicago Hospital, But DId Not Rally

 

Mrs. John R. Williams passed away at 1 o'clock this morning at Hahnemann hospital in Chicago, where she submitted to an operation for goitre. Her death came as a great shock to the family.  Henry, Misses Hattie and Louise Williams, of her children were in Chicago when the operation ocurred[sic] and their mother appeared to be getting along so nicely that at 10 o'clock Henry Williams and Dr. Giddings left Chicago for Niles and arrived here about 1 o'clock. Soon after the announcement of her death was received.

The body will be brought to Niles tonight about midnight and will be taken to the family home on Reddick street. The funeral arrangements have not been made pending the arrival of the daughters with the body.

Mrs. Williams was 50 years of age. She had long been a resident of this city and enjoyed the esteem of a large circle of friends. She was a splendid wife and mother and much sympathy is extended to the bereaved family in their great loss.

Besides her husband Mrs. Williams is survived by eight children who are Henry, David, Hattie, Louise, Lizzzie, Carrie, Freeda and John, all of Niles and all at home, except Henry and David. Four sisters and a brother who reside at a distance also survive.

The funeral arrangements will be made later.

Mrs. Williams had long been a sufferer from goitre and her condition of late had become so critical that the operation  was resorted to.

 

Plomb, Kenneth Alfred

Kenneth Alfred Plomb
July 23, 1939-Jan. 9, 1940


Plomb Infant Dies After 2 Day Illness;

Services Thursday

 

Illness of two days of bronchial pneumonia brought death Tuesday night to Kenneth Alfred Plomb, five and one-half months old son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Plomb, 201 North Seventh street.

The child, who was born July 23, 1939, died in Pawating hospital at 7:30 Tuesday night. He is survived by his parents and brother, Robert F. Plomb, and his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Glen Stilp, South Bend, and Mrs. Hattie Plomb, Chicago.

Friends may call at the Rutherford Funeral home where services will be conducted Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock. The Rev. J. Kenneth Hoffmaster will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

Renz, Anna Marie (Marshall)

Anna Marie Renz
March 15, 1880-Jan. 13, 1940


Niles Daily Star, Monday, January 15, 1940, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Scott Renz, Friend of Sick, Unfortunate, Dies

 

Mrs Anna Marie Renz, wife of Scott Renz, died Saturday afternoon in their home, 545 S. St. Joseph avenue. Her death followed a prolonged period of ill health but her condition became critical only a brief time before her passing.

She had been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church for 38 years and had served as president of the Ladies Aid society. Always generous to those in distress and need, she had become known throughout the city for her ministrations to the sick and her sympathetic understanding of the problems of those in trouble.

Mrs. Renz's parents, Joseph and Anna Marshall, were born in Leeds, England. Mrs. Renz was born in Elyria, O., March 15, 1880, one of a family of 10 children. Mr. and Mrs. Renz were married Aug. 4, 1899, in Fremont, O., and came at once to Niles, Mr. Renz's home city.

To their union was born one child, Mrs. Helen Wiars, wife of Myrtis Wiars, of Niles.

Beside the husband and daughter, Mrs. Renz is survived by a grandson, Dale M. Wiars, Niles, and by three sisters and a brother, Mrs. Edward Paulis and Mrs. Addison Whiteman, Niles; and Mrs. Andrew Rommell and John Marshall, Sturgis.

Funeral services are to be held at 2:30 Tuesday afternoon in the Price and Kiger funeral home. The Rev. J. Kenneth Hoffmaster, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church, will officiate.

Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery. Friends may call at the home to view the body until noon Tuesday.

 

Fay, Claude F.

Claude F. Fay
Nov. 3, 1900-Aug. 18, 1978

Niles Daily Star, Monday, August 21, 1978, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Claude F. Fay, 77, of 703 N. Sixth St., died at 5:30 p.m. Friday at Pawating Hospital, following an extended illness.

A veteran of the U.S. Navy, having served in World War I, Mr. Fay was a life member of the Niles American Legion Post 26 and a retired employee of the National-Standard Co.

He was born Nov. 3, 1900 in Van Wert, Iowa, and had lived her since 1910, coming from New York.

On June 5, 1940 in Mansfield, Ohio, he married Bessie Lee Medders, who died Jan. 9,, 1976.

Survivors include a step daughter, Mrs. Max (Betty) Cole of Niles; a brother, Clifton A. of Niles; five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Funeral services will be at the Halbritter Funeral Home with the Rev. Arnold O. Schaap of Edwardsburg officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.

 

Morris, Raymond W. Sr.

Raymond W. Morris, Sr.
March 17, 1907-Aug. 12, 1978

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, August 15, 1978, page 2, col. 3-5, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Raymond W. Morris Sr., 71, of 1051 Eagle Lake Drive, Rt. One, Paw Paw, who died at 10:10 p.m. Saturday at Pawating Hospital, Niles, following an extended illness, will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Wesley United Methodist Church, Niles.

The Revs. Mark D. Graham of the Wesley United Methodist Church and Kenneth L. Snow of the Morris Chapel United Methodist Church will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Berrien County Cancer Service or the Niles Community Library. Friends are calling at the Halbritter Funeral Home.

Mr. Morris was a retired Studebaker Corp. employee and a retired farmer. He was born March 17, 1907 in Niles and had lived his lifetime in the area until moving to Paw Paw six years ago.

On May 1, 1937 in Rochester, Ind., he married Phyllis M. Welch, who survives.

Also surviving are four sons, Richard and Sgt. George Morris, both of Niles, Raymond Jr. of Michigan City, Ind., and Arthur Lee of Edwardsburg; seven daughters, Mrs. Marie Weintland of Niles, Mrs. Palmer (Joanne) Feltman of Denver, Colo., Mrs. Ray (June) Standiford of Niles, Mrs. Robert (Norma) Kattermeinrich of Niles, Mrs. Eugene (Margie) Sherwood of Niles, Mrs. Edward (Mary) Graham of Niles, and Mrs. Dale (Lena) Young of Niles; a brother, Kenneth of Niles; a cousin, Richard Howard of Niles; 36 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Mr. Morris was a member of the Niles Community Grange and a past master of the grange.  He also was a former member of the school board of the Thomson School District, a former school bus driver for the Niles Community Schools, a graduate of Niles High School and an outstanding basketball player at Niles.

 

Elliott, Caroline Louise

Caroline Louise Elliott
Jan. 15, 1859-Jan. 14, 1940

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, January 16, 1940, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library


The body of Caroline Louise Elliott, a former resident of the city who died earlier this week in Chicago will be brought to Niles for burial Wednesday afternoon. Committal services at Silverbrook cemetery will be conducted by the Rev. Guy W. Simon.

(Daughter of William S. Elliott and 3rd wife Arthaline Howell)