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.

Fink, John E.

John E. Fink
Sept. 24, 1926-June 30, 2000

Mr. John Ernest Fink, 73, of 1800 Harrah Road, Niles, Mich., died following a brief illness at 10 a.m. on Friday, June 30, 2000 at the University Hospital, Indianapolis, Ind.

He was born on Sept. 24, 1926 in South Bend, Ind. to John Fredrick and Threasa Barbara (Grolich) Fink, and was raised in South Bend, where he graduated from John Adams High School. He also graduated from the Indiana State College, Terre Haute and fulfilled the requirements as a Certified Public Accountant.  He was a Veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army.

Mr. Fink was first employed in Niles at a private accountancy firm. He then took the position of senior vice-president at the former First National Bank - Southwest (now Old Kent Bank). He later took the position of financial executive treasurer of the Mastic Corporation, South Bend. For the past 16 years, he had served as financial administrator to Mr. and Mrs. Judd Leighton of South Bend.

He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Niles and its Foundation. He had been a member and past president of the Financial Executive Institute of South Bend, and in Niles of the Jaycee's, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, the YMCA and Orchard Hills Country Club. He had always enjoyed golfing, but his greatest joy had been his family and especially his grandchildren.

On Oct. 27, 1948, in Michigan City, Ind., he married the former Helen Jane Slaven, with whom he celebrated the 50th anniversary of that marriage in 1998.

He is survived by his wife, Jane; sons, John Jay (Laura) Fink and Ronald Alan (Ruth) Fink, both of Niles; grandchildren, Nathan John Fink, Nicole Jane Fink, Mary Sue Slack, Lawson Alexander Fink, Marjorie Jane Fink, and Threasa Dawn Fink; great-grandchildren, Trevor Slack and Kaylie Slack; sisters, Betty Lou Green of Osceola, Ind. and Barbara Ann Michalos of South Bend; and by several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services for Mr. John E. Fink will be held at the First Presbyterian Church, Niles at 11 a.m. on Thursday, July 6, 2000 with the Rev. Dr. Ronald H. Wakeman officiating. Committal services will be at the graveside at Mission Hills Memorial Gardens, Niles, and will conclude with the Veteran's Flag Presentation by American Legion Post #26 Commander John McLaughlin.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday at the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

Contributions in memory of Mr. Fink may be made to the Foundation of the First Presbyterian Church.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Ferry, Paul A.

Paul A. Ferry
May 16, 1947-Sept. 9, 2007

Paul A. Ferry, 60, of Coulter Street, Edwardsburg, died after a courageous battle with cancer at 5:25 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007 in his home.

Mr. Ferry was born on May 16, 1947, in Meadville, PA, to Francis and Cora (Maurice) Ferry. He had lived in this area all of his lifetime and graduated from Niles High School. Paul also graduated from Southwestern Michigan College. He was employed at Crown International, Elkhart.

Mr. Ferry was a member of Granger Missionary Church where he was a visitation pastor with a special emphasis on church members in nursing homes, a deacon and Sunday school teacher. He enjoyed flower gardening and spending time with his grandchildren.

On August 21, 1965, in Niles, he married the former Darlene C. Pletcher, who survives. Mr. Ferry is also survived by his two daughters, Kimberly (Neal) Mikel of Edwardsburg and Dawn (Paul) Lingle of Niles; a son, Todd (Sylvia) Ferry of Grand Rapids; four grandchildren, Kyle and Drew Mikel, Ashley and Owen Lingle; his father, Francis Ferry of Niles; and a sister, Sue Ogle of Perrysburg, OH.

Mr. Ferry was preceded in death by his mother, Cora Ferry, who died on February 3, 2005; and by a sister, Carole Pletcher, who died November 12, 1997.

Funeral services for Paul A. Ferry will be at 7 p.m. today, Sept. 13, in Granger Missionary Church, with Rev. Bob L. Renner and Rev. Dan Peterson officiating. Committal services will be held at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

The family will receive friends and relatives from 4 to 7 p.m. today in the church.

Contributions in memory of Paul A. Ferry may be made to Hospice at Home or to the American Cancer Society for Pancreatic Cancer Research.

Arrangements were made by the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Fender, Eugene R.

Eugene R. Fender
Oct. 18, 1927-Oct. 21, 1994

Eugene R. Fender, 67, of 1409 Jeannine Court, Niles,  died at 11:55 p.m. Friday in Pawating Hospital of natural causes.  Mr. Fender was assistant branch manager of Standard Federal Savings Bank and was a savings officer. He was born Oct. 18, 1927, in South Bend, and was a lifelong area resident.  On June 1, 1968, in Niles, he married Shirley Fender.  She survives with a daughter, Karena Nygaard of Fort Wayne; a grandson; a sister, Elaine K. Leidy of Niles; and a brother, Richard D. of Niles.  A son, Kevin M. Jones, died Sept. 22, 1987. He was a member of St. Paul's Church choir, Salvation Army advisory board and was a U.S. Army veteran.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in the church. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call from 5 to 9 p.m. Monday in Halbritter Funeral Home.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Feather, Florence R.

Florence R. Feather
Nov. 26, 1905-May 29, 1996

Florence R. (Zordel) Feather, 90, of 13053 Gardner Road, Buchanan, died at 10:10 a.m. Wednesday (May 29,l 1996) in Lakeland Medical Center, St. Joseph, of natural causes.  Mrs. Feather was born Nov. 26, 1905, in St. Joseph. She married Alford Zordel, who died in 1956. On April 11, 1992, she married Andrew Feather.  He survives with a daughter, Mary Campbell of Lawton; a son, Donald Zordel of South Haven, Mich.; four grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.  She was a member of First Presbyterian Church, Niles.

Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday in Pifer-Smith Funeral Home, Niles. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. today in the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the church foundation.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown 

Farris, James Roy

James Roy Farris
Feb. 17, 1924-Aug. 24, 2007

James Roy Farris of Niles, Michigan, died at 83 after a brief illness on Friday, August 24, 2007.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, August 28, 2007, in the Hoven Funeral Home in Buchanan, Michigan, with his nephew, Rev. Charles Guinn from Tennessee, officiating.

His family will receive friends on Monday, August 27th, from 5 to 8 p.m. in the Hoven Funeral Home.

He will be laid to rest at Silverbrook Cemetery .

Jim was born Feb. 17, 1924, in Tullahoma, TN. He is survived by his loving wife of 28 years, Alice Farris of Niles.

He has two daughters, Judy Richter of Strawberry Plains, TN, and Monica Gould of Stevensville, MI. Two stepsons, Joe Sarratore of South Bend and Jack Coffinger from Edwardsburg. Eight grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.

He worked for UniRoyal in Michigan and retired after 36 years.

He served his country proudly in the United States Air Force infantry during World War Two.

He was a proud member of the American Legion in Edwardsburg.

There will be a dinner after the funeral at the Eagles Lodge on Sycamore in Niles.

Special Thanks to Steve Gillispie, his grandson, for the loving care and help that he has given.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown 

Farrell, Richard

Richard E. Farrell
December 15, 1913-July 12, 2007

Mr. Richard E. Farrell, 93, of East Main Street, Niles, died at 3:15 p.m. Thursday, July 12, in Our Lady of Peace Hospital, South Bend, following a brief illness.

Mr. Farrell was born on December 15, 1913, in Grand Rapids, MI, to Fred buckle and Letha Millard. He was later adopted and was raised in Hartford, MI, graduating from Hartford High School. He came to Niles in the 1940s, and was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army.

He was a machinist, working in several area shops, and then owning and operating his own. He also owned and operated gasoline service stations in Niles.

Mr. Farrell was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, South Bend, a member of the American Legion Post #26 and the B.P.O. of Niles Elks Lodge #1322, both in Niles, and the Loyal Order of Moose #449, Buchanan, MI.

He was an active sportsman all of his life, golfing and bowling in area leagues. He also played for and assisted in managing minor league teams of the Chicago Clubs, and the House of David. An article and photograph about Mr. Farrell was published in the July 1989 issue of Sports Illustrated. He remained a fan of the Cubs all of his life.

He was first married to the former Ethel Lillian Moser. Later, on May 21, 1977, in Niles, he married the former Margaret V. (Huse) Heiermann, who survives. Also surviving are three daughters and a son, Jacki Bonebright of Kalamazoo, Jo Ann Farrell of Stockbridge, MI, Richard E. Farrell of Los Angeles, CA, and Margo (Ed) MacGregor of Stillwater, OK; 14 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a son, John Heiermann in 2002, and by two brothers, Robert Farrell and Robert Harvey; and a sister, Geri Fike.

The funeral service for Mr. Richard F. Farrell will be at 2 p.m. Monday, July 16, in Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, with Pastor Karen Brugler of Westminster Presbyterian Church, South Bend, officiating, assisted by Pastor Barbara Wirt of South Bend. Committal services will follow at the graveside at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles, and will conclude with the veteran's Flag Presentation and "Taps" by American Legion Post #26, Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday in the funeral home, with rites by the Elks Lodge at 7:30 p.m.

Contributions in memory of Richard Farrell may be made to the Berrien County Cancer Service.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Allen, Omarri Akeem

Omarri Akeem Allen

September 17, 2008-March 1, 2009

Omarri Akeem Allen, 5 months, of North 5th Street in Niles died Sunday March 1, 2009. Omarri was born in Niles, Michigan on September 17, 2008 to Jaquatia Allen and George Donley. He is preceded in death by his grandparents Preston and Lucille Donley.

Omarri is survived by his parents Jaquatia Allen and George Donley, brother Jatwon Jaque Dipree Wade, step siblings Tyisha Donley, Tevin Moffitt and Deserae Donley and grandparents Cinderella Allen and Calvin King.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, March 6, 2009 at 11am at Brown Funeral Home in Niles.  Omarri will be interred at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Condolences, photos and memories may be left for the family at www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Niles.

 Submitted by family member; publication details unknown