Obituaries

Mrs. Grace Basara
March 19, 1905-May 24, 1967

Mrs. Grace E. Basara, 62, of 948 S. 14^th St., died Thursday at 3:45 p.m. in Pawating Hospital after being ill for one month.

A lifetime resident of this area, Mrs. Basara was born in Berrien County, March 19, 1905.

In addition to her husband, Joseph, she is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Pearl Causey and Mrs. Caroline Haines, both of Niles, and two brothers, Ernest Maddron of Benton Harbor and Charles Maddron of Keeler.

Funeral services will be Thursday at 3:30 p.m. in the Halbritter Swem Funeral Home where friends are now being received.

The Rev. Lowell E. Jackson of the First Church of Christ will officiate.

Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

(Source:  Niles Daily Star, Wed. May 31, 1967, page 2,Microfilm Niles District Library)

Gratna McOmber
April 20, 1903-May 14, 1943

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, May 15, 1943, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Gratna McOmber, Route 4, Stricken; Service Monday

Funeral services for Mrs. Gratna McOmber, 40, Route 4, will be conducted Monday afternoon at 1:30 in the Price and Kiger funeral home. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Mrs. McOmber, who was born in Niles April 20, 1903, died Friday morning at 10 in the home of her sister, Mrs. Grace Purdy, near South Bend.

She is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Catherine Casner and Mrs. Rosie Gentry, Niles; three sisters, Mrs. Mack Causey and Mrs. Caroline Holmes,Niles, and Mrs. Purdy, and three brothers, Ernest Maddron, Jackson; Charles Maddron, South Bend, and Elza Maddron, Benton Harbor.

Friends may call at the funeral home.

Harriet (Thresher) Fitzgerald

Died April 20, 1932

MRS. HARRIET FITZGERALD

            Committal services for Mrs. Harriet Fitzgerald who died in the home of her brother, George Thresher, in Benton Harbor, on Wednesday evening, were conducted this morning in the family lot in Silverbrook cemetery by the Rev. Harry L. Nicholson, rector of Trinity Episcopal church.  Mrs. Fitzgerald was the widow of Porter Fitzgerald, of Niles.  Her brother, George Thresher, of Benton Harbor, and Mrs. Helen Fitzgerald Beech, of Chicago, a sister of the late Porter Fitzgerald, attended the committal services.  Mrs. Fitzgerald was a member of one of Benton Harbor’s oldest families.  Her father, the late J.P. Thresher, was one of the first editors of The Palladium.  The old Thresher homestead, was presided over by the late Mrs. Fitzgerald following the death of her mother.  The deceased was married to Porter B. Fitzgerald and the couple lived in Chicago until the time of Mr. Fitzgerald’s death, when Mrs. Fitzgerald moved to Syracuse, N.Y. to reside with her only daughter, Mrs. Campfield Leonard.  Another brother, Frank L. Thresher, of Minneapolis, also survives.  The body will be placed beside that of her husband who was the son of Col. T.J. Fitzgerald of Niles, a well known pioneer[sic] of Berrien County.  (Source:  Niles Daily Star, Friday, April 22, 1932, page 4, col. 3, Microfilm Niles District Library)

Albert J. Weaver
May 5, 1914-February 23, 1969

Niles—Albert J. Weaver, 55, of 1449 Jerome St., was dead on arrival to Pawating Hospital at 9:45 a.m. Sunday.  He had been in poor health for the past three  years.

            Mr. Weaver was born May 5, 1914 in Niles and had lived here all of his life. He was employed by the French Paper Mills as a baler.  Mr. Weaver married the former Viola Diehl Sept. 9, 1938 in Elkhart.

            In addition to his wife, he is survived by two sons, Robert, St. Joseph and Jackie A. of Buchanan; two daughters, Mrs. Joyce Ann Wiltfong, Niles, and Mary Ellen Weaver, Elkhart; a brother, Earl, Mishawaka; a sister, Mrs. Lillian Brand, Sturgis and seven grandchildren.

            Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Pifer Funeral Home with Tuesday with Rev. Leonard Putnam, pastor of the Grace United Methodist Church, officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

            Friends may call at the funeral home after 7 tonight.

(Source:  Niles Daily Star, Mon. Feb. 24, 1969, page 2, Microfilm Niles District Library)

Harry Richard  Weaver
Jan. 3, 1910-Dec. 11, 1933

Journal Era, Thurs. Dec. 14, 1933, page 1; Microfilm Niles District Library

WEAVER FUNERAL TO BE HELD FRIDAY AFTERNOON

 Harry R. Weaver, 23, died at 10:30 o’clock Monday night at the farm home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Weaver, about a mile south of Berrien Springs on US-31 in Berrien township.

 Harry, who had been an invalid for 11 years, was born in Niles, January 3, 1910.    As a child he contracted rheumatism and complications developed.    The family moved from Niles to the Berrien township farm seven years ago.

 Besides the parents, the deceased leaves five brothers and sisters, namely:    Mrs. Pearl Meddo, Berrien Springs; Rosalie, James and Ellsworth, at home, and George, of Michigan City, Ind.

 Funeral services will be held Friday afternoon at 2 o’clock from the Berrien Springs, Methodist church, the Rev. R.B. Spurlock officiating.    Burial will follow in Silverbrook cemetery at Niles.    Pallbearers are cousins of the deceased.    The body will rest in Clark’s Funeral parlors until the hour of the service. 

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, December 13, 1933, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Set Weaver Funeral

Funeral services for Harry Richard Weaver, 23, who died Monday night at his home one mile south of Berrien Springs, will be held at 2 o'clock Friday afternoon at the Methodist Episcopal church, Berrien Springs., the Rev. Raymond B. Spurlock, officiating.  The body will be brought to Niles for burial in Silverbrook cemetery.

He was born Jan. 3, 1910, in Niles. He is survived by the parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charley E. Weaver; two sisters, Mrs. Edward Meddo, South Bend, Ind. and Rosalie, at home; three brothers, George, Michigan City, Ind., and James and Ellsworth at home.

He attended school in Niles until about seven years old, when he was stricken with an attack of rheumatism. He has been an invalid since.

Isaac W. Weaver

1845-1922

I.W. Weaver Dies in South Bend

            Isaac W. Weaver, 77, a former resident of Niles, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. L.A. Walker, 537 E. Indiana avenue, in South Bend, at 3:30 o’clock yesterday afternoon.  He had been ill for two years and death was ascribed to euromic[sic] poisoning.

            Mr. Weaver is survived by three children, Mrs. L.A. Walker of South Bend, William N. Weaver of Niles and Mrs. William Young of Coldwater.  He leaves one brother, William N. Weaver, also of Niles.

            Mr. Weaver had lived in South Bend about 13 years, going to that city from Niles.  He was a native of Maryland, having been born near Baltimore, March 16, 1845.  On Nov. 19, 1868, he married Amanda Wagoner at Greenville, Ohio.

            There will be two funeral services.  The first one will be on Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. L.A. Walker.  Rev. Edwin G. Meister will officiate.  After this service the body will be brought to Niles to the home of his son, Wm. N. Weaver, 298 Parkway, where another service will be held Thursday afternoon, after which, the body will be taken to Silver Brok[sic] for burial.  (Source: Niles Daily Star-Sun, Tues. Oct. 3, 1922, page 6, microfilm Niles District Library)