Mary Rodriguez, 33
July 5, 1977 — Oct. 8, 2010

Mary Louisa Rodriguez, 33, of 12409 North Red Bud Trail, Buchanan, died at 4 a.m. Friday, Oct. 8, 2010 at 7 South Seventh St., Niles, of natural causes.

She was born July 5, 1977 in Niles. She was a lifelong area resident. Mary was a homemaker and waitress.

She loved crafts and decorating. She was very hardworking and sweet. She made you feel loved.

Mary is survived by her boyfriend, Larry Maisch; parents, Lorimer and Eladia Rodriguez of Niles; son, Michael Starett of Niles; daughters, Kelsey Monroe of Edwardsburg and Kaitlyn Monroe of Edwardsburg; brother, Luis Rodriguez of Niles; sisters, Iris (Brian) Reith of Niles and Doriz (Damian) Curry of Traverse City, Mich.

A private graveside service will be held with Pastor Paul Deeds of Bethel Apostolic Tabernacle officiating.

Burial will be held at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Niles Daily Star, Published 11:15pm Monday, October 11, 2010

Ethel Peters, 91
Jan. 30, 1919 — Oct. 14, 2010

Mrs. Peters was born Jan. 30, 1919 in Harvey, Ill. to Gerben and Marie (Enigenburg) Hoekstra. In 1922, she moved from Harvey to Niles.

Ethel graduated from Berrien Springs High School in 1937 and was Miss Berrien Springs. She retired after 37 years of service at East Main Gardens. She and her husband, Robert, had operated Peters Studio, a photography studio, in Niles.

She was a member of Hope Community Church in Niles.

On Sept. 10, 1937 in Rochester, Ind., she married Robert W. Peters, who preceded her in death Dec. 16, 1985.

Mrs. Peters is survived by their daughters, Gwendolyn (Paul) West of South Bend, Saran (Dwayne) Brock of Niles, Judy (Al) Swanson of Anderson, S.C. and Nellie (Don) DeLong of Paw Paw, Mich.; 11 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; one great-great grandchild; a sister, Saran Morris of Orlando, Fla.; brother, Dale Hoekstra of Gig Harbor, Wash.; and many nieces and nephews.

She was also preceded in death by a son, Robert W. “Buckles” Peters, Jr., who died in January 1963; a grandson, Donnie DeLong; sisters, Clara O’Rourke and Mimi Hosking; and brothers, John, Herman and Chaplain Ray Hoekstra.

Funeral services for Ethel G. Peters will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Hope Community Church in Niles with the Rev. Michael Smith of the church and the Rev. R. Allan Poage of Niles officiating.

Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will begin receiving friends and relatives at 10 a.m. Saturday at the church.

Arrangements were made by Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

Contributions in memory of Ethel may be made to Hope Community Church.

Niles Daiy Star, Published 3:32am Friday, October 15, 2010

J. Donald Wallace, 84
July 3, 1926 — Oct. 15, 2010

J. Donald Wallace, of Pletcher Avenue in Niles, died at 7:52 p.m. Friday, Oct. 15, 2010 at Lakeland Community Hospital in Niles following a brief illness. He was 84.

He was born on July 3, 1926 in Saint Augustine, Fla. to William and Ida (Hill) Wallace and has lived in NIles most of his life, graduating from Niles High School.

He was employed by the New York Central Railroad and retired from Conrail following 45 years of service.

He enjoyed golfing at area courses, hunting and fishing and vegetable gardening. He also cared for his family.

On March 29, 1949 in NIles, he married the former Gertrude Clarke with whom he celebrated the 61st anniversary of that wedding.

Surviving family includes his wife, Gertrude Wallace; their daughters Vickie (Mark) Nolan and Kathleen (Noah) Johnson, both of Niles; grandchildren Tracee, Stacie, Aimee, William, Jessica, Ashley and Tiffany; great-grandchildren LeeSonn, KeTryn, ZiEn, SudDynn, Loryn, Haley, Kali and Hayden; sisters Patsy Hipshear of Niles, Valdona Melloh of Cocoa, Fla.; brother William Wallace of Houston, Texas, and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by a son, William Wallace who died on July 13, 2000.

Funeral services for J. Donald Wallace will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2010 at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with the Rev. Edward H. Slate of Wesley United Methodist Church officiating. Committal will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends between 6 and 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Contributions in memory of Don Wallace may be made to the American Heart Association.

Niles Daily Star, Published 11:59pm Sunday, October 17, 2010

Howard C. Onderdonk, 82
April 15, 1928 — Oct. 16, 2010

Howard C. Onderdonk of Niles died at 6:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 16, 2010 at Riveridge Manor in Niles following an extended illness. He was 82.

He was born on April 15, 1928 in South Bend, Ind. to Howard Walter and Marie G. (Taylor) Onderdonk and lived in South Bend and New Carlisle prior to settling in Niles 45 years ago.

He was a veteran of World War II and the Korean Conflict, serving in the U.S. Army.

He was employed as a cook in several area country clubs and restaurants and had the honor of cooking for President Gerald Ford when he visited Niles.

Howard enjoyed playing poker at home with family and visiting Las Vegas and formerly enjoyed golfing.

He liked to watch sporting events on television especially the Chicago Cubs and University of Notre Dame football.

He was first married to Zelma Jeanette Doyle. He later married Dessie Pauline Karnes, who preceded him in death on March 9, 2003. He was also preceded in death by sons Robert Ray Onderdonk in 2006, Jess Lee Onderdonk in 2008 and James Rex Onderdonk in 1955 as well as two sisters and three brothers.

Surviving family includes his children, Linda Lou Onderdonk, Howard Lamont Onderdonk, Ricky Dean Onderdonk all of South Bend, Mary Paulette Cook, Vickie Lynn Onderdonk, Harold Paul (Tori) Onderdonk, Kathern Ann (Mark) Bailey, all of Niles, Leroy (JoBeth) Onderdonk of Fort Myers, Fla., Martha Marie Schlender of Thayer, Mo. and Dean Ralph Onderdonk of Mishawaka; step-daughters Janice Fay Duttenhaver of Niles and Earnestine (Bob) Ellis of South Bend; 34 grandchildren, many great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson.

Funeral services for Howard C. Onderdonk will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2010 at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with Pastor David Szymczak of the First Church of Christ, Niles officiating.

Committal will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles and will conclude with the Veteran’s Flag Presentation and “Taps” by American Legion Post #26, Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Contributions in memory of Howard Onderdonk may be made to Hospice at Home.

Niles Daily Star, Published 12:06am Monday, October 18, 2010

Nancy Green, 78
April 29, 1932 — Oct. 17, 2010

Nancy L. Green, 78, of South Third Street, Niles, died at 2:25 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 17, 2010 at her home following a brief illness.

She was born April 29, 1932 in South Bend to Charles Joseph and Irene M. (Ostrander) Parks and lived in this area her whole life, graduating from Niles High School in 1950. She was employed fro 25 years at the former National Tea Co. and the former A&P grocery stores in Niles.

Nancy enjoyed playing bingo and visiting the Blue Chip Casino and Las Vegas. She also enjoyed working in her yard and caring for her daughters and their families.

On Feb. 1, 1958 in South Bend, she married Robert L. Green. They celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary before Bob’s death July 5, 2003.

Nancy was also preceded in death by two sisters, Willadean Arata and Phyllis Parks.

Surviving family includes two daughters, Carmen (Michael) Burks of Niles and Missy (Scott) DeLay of Parker, Colo.; grandson, Jake DeLay; step-grandchildren, Corey (Kristina) Burks, Christopher Burks and Michelle Pence; seven step-great-grandchildren; a brother and sister, Charles Parks and Melba Bestle, both of Niles; several sisters- and brothers-in-law; and many nieces and nephews.

Services for Nancy L. Green will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2010 at Halbritter Funeral Home with Pastor David Mitchell of Faith Victory Fellowship in Buchanan officiating.

Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive friends and relatives from 4 p.m. until the service Wednesday at the funeral home.

Contributions in memory of Nancy may be made to Niles-Buchanan Hospice at Home, 4025 Health Park Lane, St. Joseph, MI 49085.

Niles Daily Star, Published 3:44am Tuesday, October 19, 2010

John Allen, 86
April 24, 1924 — Oct. 18, 2010

John Lee Allen, 86, of Niles, died at 7:45 p.m. Monday, Oct. 18, 2010 at Lakeland Regional Medical Center in St. Joseph of natural causes.

He was born April 24, 1924 in Amite County, Miss. He had lived in the Niles area since 1969.

John was a saw mill technician and a member of Spiritual Vision Church of God in Christ in Niles.

He married Eula Mae Allen on Nov. 25, 1944 in Liberty, Miss. She preceded him in death June 15, 1997.

John was also preceded in death by his parents, Jessie and Georgia (Morton) Allen, and a daughter, Camel Lee Allen, on June 7, 2008.

John is survived by his sons, Charles (Geneva) Allen, Johnnie (Regina) Allen, JL Allen, Willie (Mary) Allen, Leroy Carl Allen and Ronnie (April) Allen; daughters, Georgia Mae Allen, Jessie Mae Allen, Jeanette (Rochell) Foster and Ola Mae Rose; brothers, Jack Allen of Amite County, Miss. and Bennie Allen of Amite County, Miss.; 40 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and special friends, Mrs. Heron, Ms. Rosetta Lowery and Mr. Jack.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 25, 2010 at Spiritual Vision Church of God in Christ, Niles, with Pastor Elijah Thompson III of the church officiating.

Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Friends may call from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 25 at the church.

Niles Daily Star, Published 3:36am Friday, October 22, 2010