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.

Hess, Carl E.

editor Obituaries
Carl E. Hess
Oct. 25, 1906-Sept. 9, 1997

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, September 10, 1997, page 2, col. 1-2, microfilm Niles District Library

Carl E. Hess
1906-1993
retired, Kawneer Corp.

    Funeral services for Carl E.Hess, 90, 3602 S. Ironwood Drive, South Bend, Ind., formerly of Niles, are Friday at 11 a.m. at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Niles.  Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.
    Mr. Hess died Tuesday, at 6:25 a.m., at Holy Cross Care and Rehabilitation Center, South Bend, of natural causes.
    He was born Oct. 25, 1906, in Kendallville, Ind.
    On Sept. 27, 1930, in Brookfield, Ill., he married the former Helena Young, who survives.
    Mr. Hess retired in 1972 from Kawneer Corp., after 42 years as Insurance Manager. He was a member and held many positions at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Niles; was a past member of the Niles Safety Board; past President of the Niles Chamber of Commerce, Kawneer Management and the 25-Year Club.
    Survivors include a daughter, Phyllis Rogers of Niles; a son, Keith Hess of Tuscaloosa, Ala.; and four grandchildren.
    Friends may call Thursday from 6 until 8 p.m. at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home, Niles.
    Memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Niles.

Smith, Rebecca P.

editor Obituaries
Rebecca P. Smith
July 29, 1915-February 10, 1998

    Funeral services for Rebecca P. Smith, 82, 1025 N. Ninth St., NIles, are Monday Feb. 16, at 11 a.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, by the Rev. Harry D. Pierson of Franklin A.M.E. Church.  Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.
    Mrs. Smith died Tuesday at 2:45 p.m. at Lakeland Medical Center, Niles, following a brief illness.
    She was born July 29, 1915 in Union City, Tenn., and had lived in Niles since 1940, coming from Tennessee.
    On Aug. 24, 1957 in Niles, she married Levern Smith, who preceded her in death Sept. 29, 1966.  She was also preceded in death by two sisters, Margaret Jones and Alberta Farmer.
    Mrs. Smith was a member of the Niles Senior Center and had been employed by several families in Niles.
    Survivors include several nieces and nephews and many friends.
    Friends may call one hour prior to services at the funeral home.
    Memorial contributions may be made to the Niles Senior Center.

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, February 14, 1998, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Wyatt, Bessie M. (Vandygriff)

editor Obituaries

Bessie M. 'Becky' Wyatt
Nov. 10, 1930-Nov. 23, 2008

Bessie M. "Becky" Wyatt, 78, of Bertrand Road, Niles, died at 4:30 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 23, 2008, in her home, following an extended illness.
The family is gathering privately at the graveside, with the Rev. Eva Buthy, chaplain of Hospice At Home, officiating. There is no public visitation.
Burial is in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.
She was born on Nov. 10, 1930, in Summittville, Tenn. to William Alton Vandygriff and Pearl Mae Ellis Vandygriff. She graduated from Nile High School and has lived in Niles most of her life.
She was employed at the former Sunstrand Corporation in Dowagiac for 14 years.
On June 14, 1952, in Marion, Ark., she married Charles W. Wyatt, Sr., who died on Oct. 2, 2005.
She and her husband built their house in 1954 and lived there the rest of their lives. They enjoyed gardening and caring for their children and grandchildren.
She was also proceeded in death by two sisters and four brothers.
Surviving family includes two sons, Charles W. Wyatt, Jr. of Niles and Jonathan L. Wyatt of Lansing; two daughters, Debra A. Rorie of Osceola, Ind. and Peggy S. (John) Milliken of Bristol, Ind.; seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice At Home.
Arrangements were by Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

Niles Daily Star, Published 10:07am Monday, November 24, 2008

Walker, David N.

editor Obituaries

David N. Walker
Dec. 8, 1958-Dec. 24, 2008

By Staff
David N. Walker, 50, of M-140, Niles, died at 11:18 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2008, at Lakeland Community Hospital, Niles, following a brief illness.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Monday, Dec. 29, at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, with the Rev. Edward H. Slate, of Wesley United Methodist Church, officiating.
Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.
Friends may call from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.
He was born on Dec. 8, 1958, in Niles to Clayton H. and Margaret (Green) Walker.
He graduated from Niles High School in 1977 and has lived in Niles all of his life.
He has been employed at the Cook Nuclear Plant for nearly 30 years.
He earned his associated degree in electrical engineering technology from ITT in Fort Wayne, Ind. and has enjoyed working in electronics both at work and at home.
He was a fan of NASCAR automobile racing, especially watching the performance of Dale Jarrett. He also enjoyed the athletic events of the University of Michigan.
Surviving family includes his parents, Clayton H. and Margaret Walker of Niles; two sisters, Kathleen (Terry) Burgess of Niles and Mary Ellen (Todd) Bouwkamp of Niles; brothers, John C. Walker of Niles, Steven G. Walker of Niles and Wayne E. Walker of Grand Rapids; nieces, Kara Hannah and Holly; nephews, Blake, Tate and Keith and great-aunts, Marian Moyser of Niles and Ann Stahl of Niles.
Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association.
Arrangements were by Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

 Niles Daily Star, Published 7:59pm Saturday, December 27, 2008

Russell, John D.

editor Obituaries

John D. Russell
Aug. 10,1956-Jan. 22, 2009

By Staff
John D. Russell, 52, of Bailey Avenue, Niles, died at 3:30 a.m. at his home, following an extended illness.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 26, at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, with the Rev. Dorothy Blassingame, of Victory Tabernacle Pentecostal Church of God, officiating.
Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.
Friends may call from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 25, at the funeral home.
He was born on Aug. 10, 1956, in Niles, to Jesse J. Russell and Marjorie Williams Russell.
He was a lifetime resident of Niles and graduated from Niles High School with the Class of 1974.
He was a concrete finisher for a union specializing in state highway work and other union construction sites.
He attended the Victory Tabernacle Pentecostal Church of God in Dowagiac. He was an avid outdoorsman, loving camping and fishing.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Darrell Lister.
Surviving family includes two sons, Nathan Russell of Florida and Joshua Jerue of Indiana; his parents, Jesse J. and Marjorie "Jean" Russell of Niles; brothers, Michael Mattson of Saint Joseph and Charlie Van Russell of Tampa, Fla.; a sister, Gloria Scott of Cullman, Ala.; several nieces and nephews and a special friend, Tammy Munger of Niles.
Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association.
Arrangements were by Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

Niles Daily Star, Published 4:02am Friday, January 23, 2009

Sigfrids, Geneva (Miller)

editor Obituaries

Geneva Sigfrids
Nov. 15, 1921-April 11, 2009

By Staff
      Geneva Sigrids, 87, of East Calvert Street, South Bend, Ind., and formerly of Niles, died at 5:34 p.m, Saturday, April 11, 2009, at Memorial Hospital, South Bend, Ind., following a brief illness.
      Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 15, at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, with the Rev. Mark Slabaugh of First Missionary Church, Niles, officiating.
      Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.
      Friends may call one hour before services at the funeral home Wednesday.
      She was born on Nov. 15, 1921, in Ellisville, Ind., to James Miller and Mainie McFadden Miller.
      She lived in Niles most of her life, including many years on East Bertrand Road.
      She was employed for more than 20 years at Electro-Voice, formerly of Buchanan.
      She was a member of First Missionary Church, Niles. She enjoyed various arts and crafts, but especially crochet.
      In November 1946, in Niles, she married John Rogers Sigfrids, who died on Aug. 18, 2008.
      She was also preceded in death by brothers, Lester Miller and Wayne Miller and sisters, Irene Goble and Margaret Bailey.
      Surviving family includes two daughters, Velda Johnson of South Bend, Ind. and Crystal Sigfrids of South Bend, Ind.; grandchildren, Tamera (Frank) Reed, Teresa Johnson and Bill (Theresa) Johnson; six great-grandchildren and eight great-great-grandchildren.
      Arrangements were by Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

Niles Daily Star, Published 5:59am Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Fouche, Ona L. (Rose)

editor Obituaries

Ona L. Fouche
Feb. 6, 1934-Sept. 27, 2009

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, with the Rev. Theodis Hadley, pastor of Emeritus of Canaan Baptist Church, officiating.

Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Friends may call beginning at 1 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

She was born on Feb. 6, 1934, in Niles, to Harold Kenneth Rose, Sr. and Sallie Lucille (Whitfield) Rose. She had lived in Niles all of her life.

She was currently employed at the South Bend Clinic, with 18 years of service there.
She had previously been employed at Tony’s Supermarket in Niles.

She was previously married to Charles Fouche.

Surviving family includes a son, Charles “Ricky” Fouche of Niles; sister-in-law, Mitsue Rose of Niles and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by a sister, Bettie Bailey, who died on March 4, 1988 and two brothers, Harold K. Rose, Jr., who died on April 22, 1998 and Robert W. “Sonny” Rose, who died on July 9, 2008.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Berrien County Cancer Service.

Arrangements were by Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:27am Monday, September 28, 2009

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