Died at Kalamazoo July 15 Eva M. LaPierre aged 29 years, only daughter of A.M. and H.A. LaPierre of this city.

    
"It is well."  Ah, yes, 'tis well
    To lay our treasure down to rest,
To fold the weary, waxen hands
    Above the weary, pulseless breast.
To close the sorrow-laden eyes
    That realize no sorrow now.
To press one long and lingering kiss
    Upon the marble, placid brow.

"It is well."  Ah, yes, 'tis well
    To know that shadows all are past.'
To know that o'er that darkened mind
    God's blessed sunshine beams at last
To know that compensation full
    Is richly meted out to all,
To know that o'er earth's wearied ones
    God's richest blessings fall.

"It is well."  Ah, yes, 'tis well
    That Angels swing the gates ajar
And wait with eager harps attuned
    The weary pilgrims from afar.
O, happy home beyond the tide!
    O, peaceful rest of countless years,
Where blighted hopes may bloom again
    An God shall wipe awy all tears.
                    O.O.
(Source: Niles Mirror, Wednesday, July 20, 1881, page 4 col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library)

Mrs. Edward (Frances M. Allen) LaPierre

1849-1918

    Mrs. Frances M. LaPierre, one of Niles' most beloved citizens, died at her home, 310 Cedar street, this morning at 1:30 o'clock after an illness covering a period of about a year.
    All of her life Mrs. LaPierre had resided in this city.  Born and raised here, she was married and died in the place of her nativity.  She was a splendid [illegible] womanhood, quiet and unassuming and the possessor of the sterling qualities, which claimed for her a host of friends.
    Deceased was born in this city July 9, 1849 and in the early seventies was married to Mr. LaPierre who died several years ago. She was the mother of Guy M. LaPierre, of Battle Creek who with Mrs. Caroline Allen, her mother, and Charles J. Allen, brother, both of this city, survive.
    Mrs. LaPierre's maiden name was Frances M. Allen, and her mother, who is 87 years of age, still resides in the home in which her daughter lived and died.  Deceased was an active member of the Trinity Episcopal church and the funeral services will be held from the home Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock.  Rev. Harold Holt officiating, with burial in Silver Brook cemetery.  (Source: Niles Daily Star, Friday, April 12, 1918, page 4, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library)

Mrs. Ernest Densborn
1896-1957

    Mrs. Blanche Densborn, 61, wife of Ernest Densborn of 11 North State Street died at 1:10 a.m. Sunday at Pawating Hospital after a two-year illness. She had been a patient at the hospital six days.
    Born March 21, 1896 in Howard County, Ind., she married her husband, Dec. 25, 1916 in Kokomo, Ind.  They moved to Niles from Kokomo 31 years ago.
    Mrs. Densborn is survived by her husband, a son, Donald L. Densborn of Niles, four grandchildren; a sister, Mrs. L.O. Miller of Kokomo, and a brother, J.D. Preble of LaGrange, Ill.
    Friends may call at the Kiger-Halbritter Funeral Home where services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday  by the Rev. John G. Carlton, pastor of Trinity Episcopal Church.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.
(Source: Niles Daily Star, Monday, May 13, 1957, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library)

Sophronia Densmore
1811-1893

The Republican, Thursday, December 6, 1893, page 7, col. 3

    Mrs. Sophronia Densmore, mother of the late Jay Densmore, died yesterday at the residence of William C. Rice, on Main street.

The Daily Star, Wednesday, December 20, 1893, page 2, col. 2

    Mrs. Sophronia Densmore, died on Dec. 6 aged 82 years.  Mrs. Densmore was born in Washington county, N.Y., in the year 1811.  When a young woman she emigrated to western New York and settled in the township of Kendall, Orleans county. There she met and married her husband, Artemas Densmore, who died about thrty-five years ago.  Two children were born to them. One daughter, who died some years since in Seattle, Washington, and one son, Joy[sic] Densmore, who died two years ago in this city.  Mrs. Densmore after her widowhood, continued her residence in Orleans county, principally in the village of Albion, until she came to Niles, some seven years since, to the home from whence she was buried.  At the age of 18 years she united with the Baptist church and has always been identified with that denomination.  Rev. Chas. Ager conducted the funeral services.

George Graham

Died April 21, 1894

    George Graham, aged 46 years, died at his home on Second street last Saturday night, of cancer. The deceased leaves a wife, three sons and three daughters.  The family came here from LaPorte last September, and Mr. Graham had been confined to his bed most of the time since his arrival in the city.  The funeral occurred Monday afternoon.
(Source: Niles Republican, Thursday, April 26, 1894, page 5, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library)

Roger J. Wood
1912-1994
Retired nuclear engineer
for Westinghouse Co.

    Funeral services for Roger J. Wood, 81, of 3950 Colony Cove Trail, Jacksonville, Fla., are 10 a.m. Friday at the graveside in Silverbrook Cemetery by the St. Joseph Valley Lodge 4, F.&A.M. of Niles.
    Wood died Monday at Riverside Hospital, Jacksonville, following an extended illness.
    Born Nov. 25, 1912, in Niles, where he was born, raised and lived at the family home located at 620 E. Main St., until 1964.
    On Nov. 14, 1936, in Portland, Ore., he married the former Marjorie Fay, who preceded him in death on Sept. 15 1978.
    Wood attended the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) and the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. He was a veteran of World War II and served in the U.S. Merchant Marine and Coast Guard.  He retired from Westinghouse Co. where he worked as a Nuclear Engineer as the resident Engineer on the USS Enterprise and later did research and development at U.S. foreign and off-shore power plants.  He also helped with his family's business, Niles Steel Tank.  Wood was an active member in Masonic activities in each community in which he lived.
    Survivors include a daughter, Christina L. Wood of Jacksonville; a grandson, Christopher D.W. Severs; a sister-in-law and nieces and nephews.
    Wood was preceded in death by a son, Roger Jeffery Wood on July 31, 1972, and a brother, Lucian Wood on June 4, 1994.
    There will be no visitation.
    Memorial contributions may be made to Shrine Burn Center, the American Cancer Society or the American Heart Association.  
(Source: Niles Daily Star, Thursday, June 23, 1994, page 2, col. 1&2, microfilm Niles District Library)