Not buried in Silverbrook per obit

Helen M. Rea
July 8, 1917-April 29, 2009

Helen M. Perkins Rea, 91, residing in South Bend, passed away at 7:00 a.m. Wednesday, April 29, 2009 at Memorial Hospital.

She was born July 8, 1917 in Columbia City, IN to Walter & Orpha (Ramsey) Koester where they lived for three years before moving to Grass Creek, IN. In 1926 the family moved to South Bend. She graduated from James Whitcomb Riley High School in 1935, and later graduated from South Bend College of Commerce.

On March 16, 1940 in South Bend as Helen Koester she married George W. Perkins who passed away on September 19, 1974. She was also preceded by her sister, Evelyn Koester.

Then on June 19, 1976 in Mishawaka, she married Robert Virgil Rea who survives. Also surviving is her daughter, Marsha (John) Marshall of Mishawaka, three sons, James W. (Priscilla) Perkins of Charlotte, NC, Kenneth J. Perkins of New Port Richey, FL, and Daniel (Jackie) Perkins of North Fort Myers, FL. Twelve grandchildren, twenty great-grandchildren, her brother, Walter (Merle) Koester of Asheville, NC, and very special nieces, nephews, and cousins, whom she loved dearly survive her as well.

She greatly enjoyed her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Helen worked for the School City of South Bend, Bendix Home Appliance, and then retired to raise her family. After 23 years as a "stay at home" Mom, she returned to the working world as Secretary to the Director of Personnel at South Bend Lathe and then at A.M. General as Secretary to the manager of the Parts Dept. until her retirement in 1980.

After her marriage to Robert Virgil Rea, they spent their winters in Ft. Myers, Florida for twenty years, where she learned to bowl, play golf, and swim.

Helen was a member of Trinity Evangelical Free Church in South Bend. During their winters at Ft. Myers, FL, she attended the Community Reformed Church and later the Fort Myers Evangelical Free Church.

Services celebrating the life of Helen Perkins Rea will be at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, May 3, at Palmer Funeral Home-Guisinger Chapel, 3718 South Michigan Street, South Bend. Rev. Craig Clapper and Rev. Steve Meck will officiate. Graveside services and burial will follow at Southlawn Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. Saturday, May 2, at the funeral home, and one hour prior to services Sunday.

Expressions of sympathy in memory of Helen Perkins Rea may be offered to Trinity Evangelical Free Church, 61770 Miami Road, South Bend, IN 46614, or to The Center for Hospice & Palliative Care, Inc., 111 Sunnybrook Court, South Bend, IN 46637.

Martha Miller
Sept. 3, 1945-May 12, 2009

Mrs. Martha Miller, 63, a resident of Darden Road, South Bend, Indiana passed from this life at 6:50 a.m., Tuesday, May 12, 2009, at Healthwin Hospital, following an extended illness.

Martha began her life on September 3, 1945 in Niles, Michigan, daughter of Rev. MacCullen and Dennell (Morgan) Williams. She attended Edwardsburg schools and was a life time area resident.

Mrs. Miller led a fulfilling life with many interests. She owned and operated Miller Adult Foster Care in Niles until her health failed. She also started adult foster care in her home in Kalamazoo, Michigan. As a member of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, Niles, Ml, she sang in the choir. Her love for the music ministry led her to sing and play piano with many gospel groups including the Kalamazoo Gospelettes. Mrs. Miller was a member of the PTO and always volunteered to help with her children's activities. Because of her compassionate heart, she enjoyed caring for people with special needs and prayed for everyone. Among her hobbies was bowling until she became ill.

Family members who will mourn her loss include two daughters, Patricia (Myron) Miller-Chism of South Bend and Doris Winfield of Lilburn, GA; three sons, Timothy Bell of Elkhart, IN, Jerry (Felicia) Williams of Clarksville, KY and Christopher Williams of Niles, Ml; 16 grandchildren; ; three great-grandchildren; stepfather, Bishop Oliver Reed of Gary, IN; four sisters, Ruth (Willie) Williams and Dorothy Moore of Niles, Ml, Janice (James) Hall of South Bend and Cheryl (Henry) Singleton of South Sioux City, Iowa; one brother, Vernon Williams of Peoria, IL; a special friend, Benjamin Forest, Jr. of Benton Harbor, Ml, a host of nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Dennell Williams & MacCullen Williams, Sr., a brother, MacCullen Williams, Jr.; and a nephew, Anthony Moore.

Funeral services for Mrs. Miller will be held at 12:00 noon, Monday, May 18, at Mt. Calvary Baptist

Cemetery, Niles. Friends may call Sunday evening from 7-9:00 p.m. at Alford's Mortuary where arrangements have been entrusted.

Linda L. Jaroch
Aug. 17, 1944 – May 28, 2009

NILES — Linda Louise Jaroch, 64, died at 3:55 p.m. Thursday in Lakeland Community Hospital. She was born August 17,1944 in Paris, TN, to the late Charles and Bertha Day. On August 2, 1964 in Niles she married Neal Jaroch who preceded her in death. She owned and operated Chuck Day Music Center in Niles. Survivors include sons, Charles Jaroch of Niles and Anthony (Mellinda) Jaroch of South Mills, NC; very close friends, Janice Himes of Walkerton; sisters, Cheryl C. "Kay" Morris of Ferndale, CA; and grandchildren, Katelyn, Ryan, Tonya, Amanda, Carissa and Christopher. Services will be at noon Wednesday in Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan, with Pastor Russell Simonson of Forgotten Man Ministries officiating, where family may call two hours before services. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Memorials may be made to American Heart Association and American Diabetes Association.

Miss Bessie Webber
October 10, 1886-March 30, 1906

A PATIENT SUFFERER

Miss Bessie Webber Passed Away Yesterday Afternoon

After an illness with tuberculos’s[sic] covering a period of eight years, three of which the patient little sufferer was bedfast, Miss Bessie Webber, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Webber of 399 Grant street, passed away yesterday afternoon at 4 o’clock.

She was born in Niles, Oct. 10, 1886 and had always resided here. Besides her mother and father, she leaves two sisters, Hazel and Blanche, and three brothers, Clyde and William of this city and Clarence of Kalamazoo to mourn her loss.

The patience and forbearance with which the young girl has borne her protracted illness has been the subject of comment of all who knew her and was beautiful to see. Every little act of Kindness, many of which she received from sympathetic children and their elders, was appreciated by her and helped to brighten the long hours. Especially close was the tie between daughter and father, the devotion of the latter during all her illness being untiring—every spare moment was devoted to her.

The funeral will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2 o’clock at Trinity Episcopal church, Rev. C.J. DeCoux officiating. The remains may be viewed at the home from 9 a.m. to 12. Burial at Silver Brook cemetery.

Niles Daily Star, Sat. March 31, 1906, page 2, col. 4

LUCY FITZGERALD
December 11, 1814- February 13, 1886

Niles Mirror, Wednesday, Feb. 17, 1886, page 4

Death of Mrs. Lucy Fitzgerald

           Mrs. Lucy Fitzgerald, after a long and painful illness, went to her final rest on Saturday afternoon last.  Mrs. Fitzgerald was born in Detroit, Dec. 11, 1814, of French parents.  She was married to Obed P. Lacey Jan 22, 1834, and came to Niles the spring following, and was thus one among the early settlers.  She was one of the brightest ornaments in the then village, and was the life of social circles, the lady first to call and welcome all new comers to the place and make them feel at home.  In 1844 she lost her husband, and was left with two daughters, and she sorrowed as only those do who have last one to whom they are devotedly attached.  Nov. 7, 1848, she married Col. Thomas Fitzgerald, man who then filled the office of US. Senator by appointment from Govenor Ransom, in place of Lewis Cass, resigned.

            She accompanied her husband to Washington, and remained there during the Congressional session of 1848-49, taking high rank in the social circles of refined Washington  society.

            He was afterwards elected Judge of Probate and commanded the respect and esteem of all for his honesty, competency and integrity.  He died in the spring of 1855, since which time she and her daughter Fanny have lived together, ever welcoming their many friends to their quiet home.  By her marriage to Mr. F. she had one son, who died a few years since.  Mrs. F. was a faithful member of the Episcopal church, from which church she was buried on Tuesday, the Rev. C.C. Tate officiating.  She was a woman who commanded the respect of all.  She leaves two worthy daughters and a host of friends.