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, Elizabeth

Elisabeth Holmes
1852-Oct. 21, 1926

Elisabeth Holmes (Woodard)  Mrs. Elizabeth Holmes, 69, widow of William H. Holmes, died Thursday Oct 21, 1926, in the Holy Name hospital, LaPorte, Ind., after an illness of four Months. She was born in St. Joseph county, Ind., and was a daughter of Mrs. and Mrs. Joseph Woodward. She was taken to the hospital from her home in Hamlet, Ind. Walter Woodward of Niles is a brother of the deceased.

The body was brought to Niles this morning in the Troost and Augustine ambulance, and is at the Troost and Augustine undertaking rooms, where the funeral services will be held Tuesday afternoon at 2 o’clock. Burial will take place in Silverbrook cemetery.

 Submitted by family member; publication details not known

Holmes, Edmond R.

Edmond R. Holmes
December 1, 1897-May 18, 1975

Edmond R. Holmes 77, of 411 Grant St., Niles died at 6:35 p.m. Monday (May 18, 1975) at Pawating Hospital after an extended illness.

He was a member of Grace United Methodist church and the Gleaner class of the church. He was a retired service station owner and former employee of United Dairies, and a former member of  the Lions club.

He was born Dec. 1, 1897, in Summitville, Tenn., and had lived in Niles since 1917, coming from Tennessee. On July 30, 1919, in Niles, he married the former Aileen C. Weaver, who survives.  Also surviving are a son, William R. of Niles; two daughters, Mrs. Orin (Lucybelle) Cain and Mrs. Douglas (Virginia) Borst, both of Niles; a brother, W. Paul, of Niles; a sister, Miss Mary Louis Holmes of Jackson; eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday in Grace United Methodist church with the Rev. Donald Cozadd officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.Friends may call at the Halbritter Funeral Home after 7 p.m. Tuesday. Memorials may be given to the Grace United Methodist church. Memorial fund or the Berrien County Cancer Service. 

Submitted by family member; publication details not known 

Holmes, Charles E.

Charles E. Holmes
February 13, 1893-August 2, 1964

      Funeral services for Charles E. Holmes, 71, of 902 Edwards St., will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Pifer Funeral Home.  The Rev. John MacLachlan, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, will officiate. Graveside rites conducted by the American Legion will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery.

      He died at 5 a.m. Sunday (Aug. 2, 1964), in his home, having been ill since May.  He retired six years ago from service as an engineer with the New York Central Railroad. He was born Feb. 13, 1893 west of Buchanan. He came to Niles in 1920.

      Survivors include his widow, Myrtle; two daughters, Mrs. R. H. Nichols, Glendora, Calif., and Mrs. Robert Bernard, St. Joseph; three sons, Charles E. Jr., Chicago, Franklin, Bethany, Ill, and George, Niles; four brothers, Sam, South Bend, Archie, New Kensington, PA, Ernest, Galien, and Enos, Westville, In., 10 grandchildren and a great-grandchild.

      He was a veteran of World War I and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the 40 et 8 and a life member of the Niles American Legion Post No. 26.  Friends are being received at the funeral home. 

Submitted by family member; publication details not known 

Holmes, Ada

Ada Holmes
March 6, 1911-April 21, 1970

Mrs. Ada Holmes, 59, of Boise, Idaho, a former Niles resident, died at 3 a.m. Tuesday in Boise.

Born March 6, 1911, Mrs. Holmes had lived in Niles for some time before moving to Boise. On Jan. 24, 1942, in Niles, she married Ralph Holmes, who survives.

She was a member of the Ladies Reading club, Niles Music club, an organist at the First Presbyterian church and was active in many community musical events. In addition to her husband, she is survived by her mother, Mrs. A. W. Sortore of Niles.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday in the First Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. John Wyngarden officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call beginning Friday morning at the funeral home.

Submitted by family member; publication details not known 

Holloway, Beatrice Pearl

Beatrice Pearl "Bea" Holloway, 78, of Dick Street, Niles, died at 10 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2007,in Lakeland Regional Medical Center, St. Joseph, following a brief illness.

Mrs. Holloway was born on March 5, 1929, in Buchanan, MI, to Otto and Mary (Simpson) Rauch. She had lived in the Niles area since 1962, coming from South Bend.

She retired in 1991 as the food service supervisor for the Niles Community Schools.

Beatrice was a member of Hope Community Church, Niles.

On August 30, 1946, in Rochester, IN, she married Richard Holloway Sr., who preceded her in death on May 8, 1997.

She is survived by a daughter, Diane (John) Meyer of Niles; sons, Richard (Jane) Holloway of Niles and Donald Holloway of Mishawaka; seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren; a brother, Ralph Rauch of Sodus, MI; and sisters, Della Wilson of Newport, TN, and Christina Dillavou of Kerrville, TX.

Mrs. Holloway was also preceded in death by her siblings, Charles and Harris Cronin, Carl, Earnest and Albert Rauch, Mildred Frelich, Alene Parm, Gladys Fletcher and Juanita Norton.

Funeral services for Beatrice Pearl "Bea" Holloway will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Aug 20, in Hope Community Church, Niles, with Rev. Michael Smith officiating. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends beginning at 10 a.m. Monday in the church.

Contributions in memory of Beatrice Pearl Holloway may be made to Hope Community Church.

Hojora, Victor

Victor Hojara, 85, of 306 S. St. Joseph Ave., Niles, died Wednesday March 25, 1998, in Silverbrook Manor Nursing Home. He was born Aug. 31, 1912. Survivors include his wife, Dorothy J. (Muff); two sisters, Evelyn Lucas of Indianapolis and Rose Lamenski of South Bend; and three brothers, Clem, Edmund and Floyd, all of Niles. Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday in Halbritter Funeral Home, where friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. today.

Hogan, Willie Lee

Willie Lee Hogan
Sept. 10, 1948-Sept. 28, 1994

Willie Lee ''Sonny'' Hogan, 46, of 1123 N. Fifth St., Niles, died at 12:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 28, 1994, in Pawating Hospital of natural causes. Mr. Hogan was born Sept. 10, 1948. On May 19, 1972, he married Georgette F. Hall. She survives with two daughters, Danielle N. Hogan and Angelique F. Hogan, both of Chicago; his mother, Elnora Hogan of Niles; seven sisters, Stella Jackson, Lula Parson, Ruth Hogan and Olivia Hogan, all of Chicago, Ernestine Felton, Arlene Towers and Michelle Myers, all of Niles; and two brothers, Charles of Chicago and Neal B. of Niles.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Halbritter Funeral Home. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call one hour before services Saturday in the funeral home.

Submitted by family member; publication details not known