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.

Holmes, Randy Lee

Randy L. Holmes
August 10, 1954


    Randy Lee Holmes, 1110 Margaret street, was still born at 6: 30 p.m Tuesday at Pawating Hospital.
    Surviving are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Holmes Jr., his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Holmes Sr., and Mr. and Mrs. Gotlieb Christ all of Niles; two sisters, Anna Mae and Eunice Christene and one brother George Franklyn Holmes, at home.
    Committal services were held at 11 a.m. today at Silverbrook Cemetery, with the Rev. C.M. Wetzel, assistant Presbyterian pastor, officiating.

Source: Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, August 11, 1954, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library
   

Gyori, Linda Lee (Hawkins)

Linda Lee Gyori
April 23, 1949-Aug. 2, 2008


Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, August 6, 2008, page 2, accessed online 10:36 AM EDT

Linda Lee Gyori, 59, of Platt Street, Niles, died at 11 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 2, 2008, at her home, following an extended illness.
Linda Gyori

Funeral services will be at 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 8, at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles. There will be brief sharing by the family.

Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

She was born on April 23, 1949, at Niles to George Henry and Evelyn Elaine (Jones) Hawkins. She was a lifetime resident of Niles.

She graduated from Niles High School and earned an associate degree at Southwestern Michigan College.

She was an active member of Alcoholics Anonymous and volunteered at the Berrien County Cancer Service.

She enjoyed making jewelry, building and finishing scale model cars and other crafts and hobbies.

Surviving family includes two daughters, Angelique Cook of San Diego, Calif. and Michelle (James) Knight of Niles; a grandson, Christopher Hosken; her parents, George and Evelyn Hawkins of Niles; a sister, Terry Anderson of Niles and her best friend, Linda Meehan.

Memorials may be made to the Berrien County Cancer Service.

Arrangements were by Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

Coons, Jessie A.

Jessie A. Coons  
Dec. 30, 1863-July 25, 1936

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, July 25, 1936, page 1, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Jessie Coons, Dies Suddenly This Morning at Age 72

Mrs. Jessie A. Coons, 72, wife of Charles A. Coons, 920 South Seventeenth street, died suddenly this morning at 3:15 o'clock.

Mr. and Mrs. Coons celebrated last Sunday their 53d wedding anniversary, a quiet celebration owing to the condition of Mrs. Coons' health.

Mrs. Coons was born in Niles Dec. 30, 1863, and had spent her entire life here.  Her parents also were natives of this section of the county.

Beside her husband she leaves two sons, Ralph, State Line, and Clyde, South Bend; two daughters, Mrs. Gladys Young, Niles, and Mrs. Marie Morehouse, Coldwater, also 18 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be on Monday afternoon at 2 o'clck in the First Baptist church.  The Rev. J.F. Goodman will officiate and burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.  Friends of the family are asked to call at the family home until the hour of the funeral.

 

Niles Daily Star, Monday, July 27, 1936, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief:  COONS SERVICE TODAY

Services were to be held today at 2 o'clock in the First Baptist church for Mrs. Jessie Coons, 72, who died Saturday morning at her home, 920 South Seventeenth street.  The Rev. James f. Goodman will officiate and burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Lambiotte, Effie M.


Effie M. Lambiotte
Sept. 15, 1884-May 6, 1981


    Effie M. Lambiotte, 96, of 1645 Howard St., Niles, died at 5:30 pm. Wednesday at her home following an extended illness.
    She and her husband, the late Oscar J. Lambiotte, built and operated the Tivoli and Northside Theaters in Mishawaka for several years.
    She was born Sept. 15, 1884 in Delaware County, Ind. and had lived here since 1969.
    Survivors include two sons, O.J. of Niles and Richard M. OF[sic] Mexia, Texas; four grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
    Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday in the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.  The Rev. Arnold O. Schaap of Edwardsburg will officiate.
    Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.
    Friends may call from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the Halbritter Funeral Home.

Source: Niles Daily Star, Thursday, May 7, 1981, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Wright, Bertha E.

Bertha E. Wright
Aug. 25, 1877-June 30, 1954


    Mrs. Bertha E. Wright, 902 North Third street, died at 4 p.m. Wednesday at Pawating Hospital. She had been ill for one year.
    Her husband, Walter, died in 1951. Surviving are one daughter, Mrs. Carl Schmidt, of Niles; one grandchild; one brother, Herman Volkhardt, of Niles, and one sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Squires, Ypsilanti.
    Mrs. Wright was born on Aug.25, 1877, in Nebraska City, Neb., and came here from Nebraska City in 1879.  She was a member of St. John's Evangelical and Reformed Church and of the E.L. Hamilton Auxiliary.
    Friends may call at the Kiger Funeral Home.  Services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday with  Rev. H.A. Meussling, pastor, officiating in St. John's Church.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery

Source: Niles Daily Star, Thursday, July 1, 1954, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Cook, Frank D.

Frank D. Cook
July 31, 1847-Dec. 17, 1919


F.D. COOK DIED IN NEW YORK

    Frank D. Cook, brother of F.W. Cook of this city, died in Fordham hospital, New York city, yesterday afternoon.
    Mr. Cook was born in Niles July 31, 1847, and was 72 years of age.  When a young man he went to New York, which has been his home for the past 53 years.  He was engaged in the wholesale tea and coffee business until his retirement a few years ago.
    The body will arrive at 12:30 o'clock noon Saturday, accompanied by his nephew, Harry Cook. Burial will take place in the family lot in Silver Brook cemetery.

Source: Niles Daily Star-Sun, Thursday, December 18, 1919, page 6, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Wurz, Herman

Herman Wurz
Oct. 15, 1877*-Dec. 22, 1919


Niles Daily Star-Sun, Tuesday, Dec. 23, 1919, page 1, microfilm Niles District Library

DEATH CLAIMS HERMAN WURZ
Was Well Known Niles Young Man--Funeral Occurs Friday

    The death of Hermann[sic] Wurz, which occurred last evening at 9 o'clock at his home, 1402 north Fifth street, brought sadness in a large circle of friends who had hoped that he might yet be successful in his brave fight for health. Mr. Wurz had been in ill health for about two years but was able to be about.  In October, Mr. and Mrs. Wurz left for Arizona, but not receiving the expected benefit to his health they returned to Niles three weeks later, and he had since steadily declined until the end came.
    Mr. Wurz was born in Niles 39 years ago.  He grew to young manhood here, attending the Niles public schols[sic].  At an early age he entered the employe of the Michigan Central railway company and for several years prior to his death he was employed as a switchman for the company.  He was a member of the Switchman's Union.
    Mr. Wurz is survived by his wife, who was formerly Louise Shipperly of NIles, by one son, Ray Wurz and by the following brothers and sisters, Mrs. Fred Bachman, Mrs. Rudolph Guideman, Mrs. Charles Meyers, Harry Wurz and Henry Korman.
    Mr. Wurz was highly esteemed and his death has plunged many friends in sorrow.
    The funeral arrangements have not been completed but the services will probably be held on Friday. Rev. P. G. Saffran will officiate.  Burial will occur at Silver Brook cemetery.

Niles Daily Star-Sun, Friday, Dec. 26, 1919, page 1, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral Services Today


    Funeral services for Herman Wurz were held this afternoon from the residence on north Fifth street.  Rev. P.G. Saffran conducted the services.  Burial occurred at Silver Brook cemetery.

*Note re date of birth: Cemetery records and death record give date of birth as Oct. 15, 1877; however, death record also gives age as 39 y 2m 7d--consistent with date in obituary-- which would result in date of birth as Oct. 15, 1880.