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.

McCalebb, Jerri Lynn

Jerri Lynn McCalebb
April 10, 1993

Graveside funeral services for Jerri Lynn McCalebb, infant daughter of U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Lynita McCalebb of Camp Lejeune, N.C., are scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday at Silverbrook Cemetery with the Rev. W.K. Daniel, of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, officiating

Jerri Lynn lived died at 5 a.m. Saturday at Camp LeJeune Naval Hospital in Jacksonville, N.C., three hours after birth.

Survivors include her mother, Lynita McCalebb, formerly of Niles; her grandmother, Linda McCalebb of Niles and three aunts, Pamela Chester of South Bend, Lajuan  Dardignak of Stamford, Conn., and Dianne McCalebb of Niles.

Aarrangements were handled by Halbritter Funeral Home.


Niles Daily Star, Thursday April 15, 1993, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Green, Bernard

Bernard Green
Aug. 31, 1924-April 12, 1993


Bernard Green
1924-1993
Retired from Tyler refrigeration sales

Funeral services for Bernard Green, 68, 1219 Jeannine Court, Niles, are scheduled for 11 a.m. Thursday at Wesley United Methodist Church with the Rev. Nolan Williams officiating.

Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Green died at 11:45 a.m. Monday at Pawating Hospital following an extended illness.

Born Aug. 31, 1924, in Sidnaw, Mich., he had lived in Niles since 1955, coming from Berrien Springs.

On Sept. 17, 1955, in Niles he married the former Mary Allene Mitchell, who survives.

He was retired from the Tyler Refrigeration sales department, where he worked for 30 years.

He was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church and was a former usher at the church. He was a member of the Niles Elks Lodge, Niles F.O.P. and was past president of the Brandywine Lions Club. He was a Niles Township trustee and served for 11 years on the township Board of Review, and served on the Niles Community Library board.

He was a U.S. Army veteran, serving in World War II.

Other survivors include a daughter, Barbara A. Haines of Niles; a son, Robert S. Green of Niles; three grandsons and a brother, Floyd Green Jr. of Lake Placid, Fla. He was preceded in death by a brother , Macdonald Green in 1982.

Friends may call from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Halbritter Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Home Health Care Services of the American Lung Association of Berrien County.


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday April 13, 1993, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Stefani, Shirley M. (Rehkopf)

Shirley M. Stefani
May 4, 1932-March 20, 1993


Shirley M. Stefani
1932-1993
Worked in insurance

Funeral services for Shirley M. Stefani, 60, of 1876 Baldwin Drive, Niles, are scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Mark Catholic Church, with the Rev. Stanley E. Sulka, church pastor, officiating.

Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Stefani died at 11:30 p.m. Saturday at st. Joseph's Medical Center following a brief illness.

Born May 4, 1932, in Reed City, she moved to Niles in 1952, coming from Lakeville, Ind.

On June 9, 1950, she married John C. Stefani, who survives.

She worked for the former General Adjustment Bureau and for Rifenberg Insurance Agency.

She was a member of the St. Mark Catholic Church and its Christian Mothers Club.  She was an election official for Niles Township, attended Indiana University at South Bend, was an avid reading[sic], enjoyed knitting and liked to help people.

Survivors include a son, J. Michaeil Stefani of Warwick, N.Y.; a daughter, Kristy M. Quick of Niles and two brothers, Paul Rehkopf of Crystal River, Fla., Jack Rehkopf of Wyoming, Mich.

Friends may call from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Halbritter Funeral Home. A rosary service is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home with Rev. Sulka officiating.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mark Catholic Church or the Niles Community Library.


Niles Daily Star, Monday, March 22, 1993, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library.

Harker, Donald E.

Donald E. Harker
April 12, 1929-March 22, 1993


Donald E. Harker
1929-1993
Retired from Clark Equipment

Graveside funeral services for Donald E. Harker, 63, of 945 Ruth Layne, Niles, are scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Monday at Silverbrook Cemetery, with the Rev. Fred T. Smith, of South Niles Community Curch, officiating.

Harker died at 7:15 p.m. Monday at Pawating Hospital following a brief illness.

Born April 12, 1929, in Eau Claire, he had lived in Niles since 1983, coming from Jackson.

On Aug. 18, 1949, in Niles, he married the former Mary Jane Fox, who survives. He was retired from Clark Equipment Co. after 37 years, working in Berrien Springs and Jackson.  He was a World War II veteran, serving in the U.S. Army.

Other survivors include two brothers, William Harker of Niles and Jack Harker of Arkansas.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice at Home.


Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, March 24, 1993, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Benjamin, Robert Lee

Robert Lee Benjamin
Feb. 10, 1914-March 25, 1993


Robert L. Benjamin
1914-1993
Pinkerton Security guard

Funeral services for Robert Lee Benjamin, 79, 514 Sylvan St., Buchanan, are scheduled for 1 p.m. Friday at Hoven Funeral Home in Buchanan with the Rev. Herb Wyatt of Winnamac, Ind., officiating.

Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Benjamin died at 12:39 a.m. this morning at Woodfield Manor in Niles.

Born Feb. 10, 1914, in Niles, he was a lifetime area resident.

On July 18, 1958, in Beloit, Wisc., he married the former Roberta White, who survives.

He worked as a security guard for Pinkerton Security.

Other survivors include a son, Ronald Keith Benjamin of South Bend; four daughters, Sue Martindale of Rockford, Ill., Elizabeth "Peggy" Lee Lockamy of Buchanan, Barbara Lee Hickman of Winnamac and Teddie Jelinek of New Buffalo; 13 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren and a sister, Deborah Lintner of Niles.

Friends may call from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday at Hoven Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Research Center.


Niles Daily Star, Thursday, March 25, 1993, page 2, col. 4-5, microfilm Niles District Library.

Ridgway, Anna L.

Anna L. Ridgway
April 17, 1904-March 24, 1993


Anna L. Ridgway
1904-1993
Retired postal supervisor

Funeral services for Anna L. Ridgway, 88, of 3223 Dunning St., Cassopolis, are scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday at Halbritter Funeral Home with the Rev. Stephen E. Naas, of St. Mary Catholic Church, officiating.

Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Ridgway died at 5:20 a.m. Wednesday at Berrien General Hospital following an extended illness.

Born April 17, 1904, in Brookfield, Mo., she moved to Cassopolis in  1983, coming from Ellenton, Fla.

In June, 1923, in Chillicothe, Mo., she married the former James A. Ridgway, who preceded her in death in January, 1982.

She was a retired post office supervisor in Dansville, Mich.

Survivors include a daughter, Barbara Davis of Cassopolis, a son, Ronald Ridgway of Huntington Beach, Calif.; five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Friends may call one hour prior to the funeral services Friday at Halbritter Funeral Home.


Niles Daily Star, Thursday, March 25, 1993, page 2, col. 3-4, microfilm Niles District Library.

Williams, Estella L. (Lork)

Estella L. Williams
July 22, 1917-March 27, 1993

Estella L. Williams

1917-1993

Retired from the University of Notre Dame

 

Funeral services for Estella L. Williams, 75, 94 Flamingo Drive, Port Orange, Fla., are scheduled for 1:30 p.m .Monday at Halbritter Funeral Home with the Rev. Stephen E. Nass, of St. Mary Catholic Church, officiating.

Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Williams died at 7:35 p.m. Thursday at her home following an extended illness.

Born July 22, 1917, in St. Louis, Mo., she moved to Port Orange in 1985, coming from South Bend.

On June 22, 1940, she married the late Hugh T. Williams, who preceded her in death on Dec. 23, 1960.

She was retired from the University of Notre Dame.  She was a member of the Epiphany Catholic Church in Port Orange, Fla.

Survivors include a daughter, Ann C. Williams of Seagrove, N.C.; a son, Jeffrey L. Williams of Arlington, Va.; one grandchild and a brother, Edwin Lork of Ponce Inlet, Fla.

Friends may call from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday at Halbritter Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the donor's choice.


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, March 27, 1993, page 2, col. 2-3, microfilm Niles District Library