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.

Wheeler, Ira O.

Ira. O. Wheeler
Died Sat. Sept.  15, 1877


    Ira O. Wheeler, a young man quite well-known and universally esteemed in the City, died on Saturday last, at the residence of his mother-in-law, Mrs. McClellan, in his 24th year, after a brief illness.  He leaves a wife and a bright young child to mourn his loss.

(Source: The (Niles) Republican, Thursday, Sept. 20, 1877, page 3, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library)

Stowell, Maye B.

Maye B. Stowell
Died April 8, 1970


    South Bend--Maye B. Stowell, 707 Lindsey St., a former Niles resident, died at 9 a.m. Wednesday in the Dor-A-Lin Nursing Home, Niles, after an extended illness.
    A retired chief clerk with Indiana Bell Telephone Co., Miss Stowell was born in Niles and had lived here since 1910, coming from Niles.
    She was a member of the Westminister[sic] Presbyterian Church of South Bend and the Telephone Pioneers of America.
    Surviving is a nephew, Donald C. Stowell of Jacksonville, Fla.
    Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday in the Welsheimer Funeral Home, with the Rev. C. Franklin Bruce of the  Ridgedale Presbyterian Church of South Bend officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.
    Friends may call from 7-9 tonight and from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m.  Friday at the funeral home.

(Source:  Niles Daily Star, Thurs., April 9, 1970, page 2, microfilm Niles District Library)

Dudley, George

George Dudley
Drowned August 3, 1882

Fatal Bathing—Son of Rev. J.H. Dudley Becomes a Victim of the Merciless Waters.

A terrible sad accident happened in this city on Thursday afternoon, it was the drowning of a twelve year old son of Rev. J.H. Dudley of this city, in the mill race just above the head gates on the west side. Mr. Dudley and his son had been fishing and the little boy asked his father to let him go in bathing, the father thinking there was no danger as the water was calm and not so very deep, but it appears there is an abrupt decent[sic] in the bottom of the stream, and a strong under current, which carried the boy under very suddenly. The father on the bank, who could not swim, called loudly for help, which soon came from the mills near by and the body was speedily recovered, and medical aid called in, but all efforts failed to restore life.

(Source: Niles Democrat, Sat. Aug. 5 1882, page 3, microfilm Niles District Library)

Riddle, Flora Bell

Mrs. Flora Bell Riddle

1888-1970

Niles--Mrs. Flora Bell Riddle, 82, of 635 S. St. Jospeh Ave. died at 1:20 p.m. Monday in Pawating Hospital, after a brief illness.
    Born May 13, 1888, in Nilles, she had lived here a lifetime.  On Oct. 12, 1910, in St. Joseph, she married John H. Riddle, who died Sept. 2, 1969.
    Survivors include two sons, Loren and Marcius (Babe), both of Niles; three daughters, Mrs. Lucia Boyle and Flora Riddle, both of Niles, and Mrs. Virginia Repine of Mishawaka, Ind.; 11 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
    Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday in the Pifer Funeral Home, with the Rev. Robert C. Carson of the First United Methodist Church of Buchanan officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.
    Friends may call after 7 tonight at the funeral home.

(Source:  Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 1970, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library)

Riddle, John H.

John H. Riddle

1890-1969

Niles--John H. Riddle, 78, of 635 S. St. Joseph Ave. died at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in Berrien General Hospital.
    A retired employe[sic] of Williams Supply Co., Inc., Mr. Riddle was born Oct. 12, 1890, in South Bend. He married the former Flora Lambert, who survives, on Oct. 12, 1910, in St. Joseph.
    In addition to his wife, Mr. Riddle is survived by two sons, Loren J. and Marcius Riddle, both of Niles; three dauthers[sic] Mrs. Lucia Boyle and Miss Flora Riddle, both of Niles and Mrs. Virginia Repine, Mishawaka; 11 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
    Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday in the Pifer Funeral Home, with the Rev. C. Robert Carson of the First United Methodist Church of Buchanan officiating. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.
    Friends may call at the funeral home after 7 tonight.

(Source:  Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, September 3, 1969, page 2 col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library)

Teske, Harriet M.

Mrs. Harriet M. Teske

1884-1970

NILES--Mrs. Harriet M. Teske, 85, of 1431 Hickory St., died at 9:15 p.m. Saturday in the Bry-Fern Rest Home, Berrien Center, after an illness of one year.
    Born Sept. 26, 1884, in Harvey, Ill., Mrs. Teske had lived here since 1902, coming from South Bend.  On April 21, 1901, she married Frank C. Teske, who died, Aug. 26, 1952. She was a member of the Royal Neighbors of America.
    Survivors include four sons, Edward and Clifford, both of Niles, Gaylord of Milwaukee, Wis., and Frank Jr. Of Jacksonville, Fla;  two daughters, Mrs. Herbert (Gladys) Pagels and Mrs. Jay (Mildred) Griffee, both of Niles; two sisters, Mrs. Roy Besser of Chicago and Mrs. Arthur Manuel of South Bend; 15 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren and one great-greatgrandchild.
    Funeral services were held at 2 p.m today in the Halbritter Funeral Home, with Ernest Linstedt of the New Apostolic Church officiating. Burial was at Silverbrook Cemetery.

(Source:  Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 1970, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library)

Humphrey, J. Clarence

J. Clarence Humphrey

Aug. 15, 1894-Sept. 7, 1970

Niles--J. Clarence Humphrey, 76, of 320 Fort St. died at 10 a.m. Monday in his home.
    A retired contractor, Mr. Humphrey was born Aug 15 1894, in Knox, Ind. and had lived here for 51 years. On Aug. 1, 1919, in North Judson, Ind., he married the former Elizabeth Dux, who survives.  He was a veteran of World War I and a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church and the Berrien County Sheriff's Posse.
    Surviving are a son, John of Springfield, Ill.; a daughter, Mrs. Caroline Mikula of South Bend; two brothers, Charles of Niles and Jess Larimer of Pleasanton, Calif.; a sister, Mrs. Violet Griffen of Silver Lake, Wis.; six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
    Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m .Wednesday in St. Paul's Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Theodore Laesch officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.
    Friends may call after 5 today at the Pifer Funeral Home.

(Source: Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 1970, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library)