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.

Exner, Sadie H.

Sadie H. Exner
May 6, 1899-April 14, 1971


NILES--Sadie H. Exner, 71, of 1323 N. 11th St., died at 7 this morning in Pawating Hospital.

Mrs. Exner was born May 6, 1899, in Niles, and had lived here all her life. She was a member of the St John's United Church of Christ.

Survivors include a sister, Mrs. Alfred E. Asmus of Niles.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Pifer Funeral Home, with the Rev. Martin Ringstrom of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 7 Thursday night at the funeral home.


Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, April 14, 1971, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Surridge, Isabell Flora (Davis) 1914-1971

Isabell Flora Surridge
March 29, 1914-April 14, 1971

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, April 14, 1971, page 2, col. 1-2, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Mrs. Isabell F. Surridge, 57, of 2956 Us-12 East, was dead on arrival at 4:30 today in South Bend Memorial Hospital, after being in poor health for some time.

An assembler at Singer Sewing Machine Co. for 10 years, Mrs. Surridge was born March 29, 1914, in Toto, Ind., and had lived here since 1946, coming from Roseland.  On Sept. 22, 1935, in Three Rivers, she married Stanley H. Surridge, who survives.  She was a member of the Order of Eastern Star of South Bend.

Additional survivors include two brothers, Harley Davis of Niles and James Davis of Elkhart, and two sisters, Mrs. Mable Humphrey of Niles and Mrs. Velma Linn of South Bend.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Pifer Funeral Home, with the Rev. Jack Van Arsdall of the First Church of Christ officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

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



Creden, Gwendolyn W.

Mrs. Gwendolyn W. Creden
August 23, 1882-April 9, 1971

NILES--Mrs. Gwendolyn w. Creden, 88, of 401 N. State St., died at 3:40 p.m. Friday in Pawating Hospital, where she had been a patient since February.

Born August 3, 1882 in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada, Mrs. Creden had lived here for five years, coming from Glenview, Ill.

Survivors include two sons, Samuel G. of Niles and Thomas H. of Waco, Tex.; Three sisters, Mrs. Paul Schneider of Taylor, Mich.; Mrs. Edith Gilpin of Halifax, N.S. Canada and Mrs. Sydney Creighton of Montreal, P.Q. Canada; three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Trinity Episcopal Church of Niles, with the Rev. Fr. Vincent Anderson officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home.

Memorials may be given to Pawating Hospital or the St. Davids Epscopal[sic] Church of Glenview, Ill.


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, April 10, 1971, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Noble, Earl A.

Earl A. Noble
Jan. 27, 1897-April 9, 1971


NILES--Earl A. Noble, 74, oldest automobile dealer in Niles, died at 8:10 a.m. today at Pawating Hospital.  He had been ill for three months. Mr. Noble was the retired owner of the Earl A. Noble Pontiac dealership here.

Born Jan. 27, 1897, in Spring Grove, Minn., Mr. Noble had lived at Niles since 1935, coming here from Elkhart.

His wife, the former Ethel Stutsman, whom he married Nov. 29, 1917, at Peru, Ind., survives.  Also surviving are three sons, Charles and Richard of Niles and Duane of Elkhart, seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Mr. Noble was a life member of St. Joseph Valley Masonic Lodge and the Niles Elks Lodge. A 32nd degree Mason, he was a member of St. Joseph Valley Lodge of Royal Arch Masons, the Niles Shrine Club and DeWitt Clinton Consistory at Grand Rapids. He also was a member of American Legion Post 26 and Veterans of World War I at Niles. Mr. Noble was a Navy veteran of World War I.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at the Halbritter Funeral Home.  The Rev. Robert Trenery of Wesley United Methodist Church will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, where St. Joseph Masonic Lodge will conduct graveside rites.  Friends may call at the funeral home beginning Sunday.

The family has suggested that memorials be made to the Wesley United Methodist Church building fund.


Niles Daily Star, Friday, April 9, 1971, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Haisley, Harriet (Griffin)

Harriet Griffin Haisley
1885-January 12, 1934


MRS. OTTO HAISLEY DIES AT ANN ARBOR

Funeral Services Will Be Conducted in Niles Sunday Afternoon


Mrs. Harrie[sic] Griffin Haisley, wife of Otto W. Haisley, superintendent of the Ann Arbor public schools, died at her Ann Arbor home early this morning. The body of Mrs. Haisley will be brought to Niles and funeral services have been announced for 2:30 o'clock Sunday afternoon at the Trinity Episcopal church. The Rev.Harry L. Nicholson will be in charge of the services. Friends have been asked to omit flowers.
Mrs. Haisley is the daughter of Mrs. E.C. Griffin, 409 North Fourth street. Other survivors ar the husband, a former superintendent of the Niles schools, and a son Robert. A sister Miss Jeanne Griffin, Kalamazoo, also survives.
Mrs. Haisley was born in Niles and graduated from the Niles high school and later from the University of Michigan. Mrs. Haisley also taught in the Three Rivers schools.  She was active in the organization of the Niles chapter of the American Association of University Women, known here as the College club.
After moving with her family to Ann Arbor, Mrs. Haisley continued her active work in the club, social, and educational circles.  She was president for one year of the Ladies Historical society while in Niles.
Friends in Niles recall the ease with which Mrs. Haisley spoke before large audiences and her deep interest in religious, social and philanthropic work.
She was active in the League of Women Voters, and was a state delegate in 1932 to the national convention of the women's organization in Washington, D.C.
While a resident of Niles she was an active member of the Trinity Episcopal church.

Niles Daily Star, Friday, January 12, 1934, page 1, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Swartz, Frances (Perham)

Mrs. Frances Swartz
Feb. 2, 1887-April 12, 1967


Mrs. Frances A. Swartz, 80, of 1951 US-31 N., died Tuesday at 12 45 p.m., in Quick's Convalescent Home, following a ten-year illness.
Mrs. Swartz moved here from Three Oaks and had lived here since 1910. She was born Feb. 2, 1887 in Union Pier.
Her husband, Harry T. Swartz died Dec. 19, 1950.
She is survived by three sons, Howard and Harry, both of Niles, and Lyle of Fort Wayne, Ind.; 12 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren; a sister, Mrs. Carrie Akin of Three Oaks, and a brother, Roy Perham of Three Oaks.
Funeral services will be Friday at 2 p.m., in the Pifer Funeral Home with the Rev. Lloyd Schloop of the First Methodist Church officiating.
Friends and relatives may be received at the funeral home after 7 p.m. today.

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, April 13, 1967, page 2, col. 1-2, microfilm Niles District Library

Smith, Emma R. (Ennis)

Mrs. Emma R. Smith
Sept. 24, 1908-April 12, 1967


Mrs. Emma R. Smith 58, of 107 Parkway, died Thursday at 4:40 p.m., in Pawating Hospital.

Mrs. Smith was born in Midway, Tenn., Sept. 24, 1908, and moved here from Buchanan in 1954. On Nov. 25, 1941, she was married to Ray Smith in Blytheville, Ark.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by two sons, Wesley Davidson of Dowagiac and Thomas Wesley of LaPorte, Inc. ;  six grandchildren, two great-grandchildren; two sisters, Mrs. Carrie Sanders of Alabama, and Mrs. Maude Connelly of Tiplonville, Tenn.; three brothers, Jessie Ennis of St. Louis, Mo., Cecil Ennis of Hecaring, Tenn.; and Claude Ennis of Lagoda, Tenn.

Funeral services will be Thursday at 2 p.m in the Halbritter-Swem Funeral Home with Rev. John P. MacLachlan officiating.

Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends and relatives will be received at the funeral home after 7 p.m. Wednesday.


Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, April 13, 1967, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library