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.

Johnston, William 1858-1930

editor Obituaries

William Johnston
May 27, 1858-May 2, 1930

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Saturday, May 3, 1930, page 1, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

WM. JOHNSTON IS TAKEN BY DEATH
Former Niles Policeman Dies at Barron Lake Home Friday P.M.

William Johnston, 73, a former member of the Niles police department, died on Friday afternoon at his home near Barron lake. He had been in ill health for about four years. Previous to moving to Niles about 14 years ago, Mr. and Mrs. Johnston lived in Chesterton, Ind. For a number of years after coming to Niles they resided on east Ferry street.

Mr. Johnston was born in New York on May 27, 1958[sic]. He is survived by a widow, Mrs. Helen Johnston and by two sons, Theodore Johnston of Muskegon and Lorenzo Johnston of Niles, also a grandson, Roy Johnston of Muskegon.

Fraternally Mr. Johnston was a member of the Niles lodge of Elks and of the Berrien county lodge, No. 6, I.O.O.F., and each of these fraternities will participate in the funeral services on Monday afternoon. The Elks will participate of the services in the Rutherford Funeral Home with the Rev. W.W. Slee, pastor of the Methodist church as the officiating minister. The Odd Fellows will be in charge of the comittals[sic] services in Silver Brook cemetery. The services in the chapel will be held at 1:30, fast time. The friends may call at the funeral home to view the body. Mr. Johnston was a member of the Methodist church.

Mr. Johnston was appointed a member of the police department by the Mayor Homer Carr, deceased.

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Monday, May 5, 1930, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief: FUNERAL OF WM. JOHNSTON

Funeral services for William Johnston were held this afternoon. The [illegible] of the Methodist church, officiated with the officiating minister. Members of the Elks lodge read their funeral service in the chapel and Odd Fellow ritual committal service was followed at Silver Brook cemetery where burial was made. Mr. and Mrs. Rex Leach sang. Mr. Johnston died on Friday afternoon at his home near Barron lake after about four years of ill health.

Geyer, Ruth Ellen (Ribble) 1861-1930

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Ruth Ellen Geyer
Sept. 27, 1861-March 28, 1930

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Monday, March 31, 1930, page 4, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral Services Are Held in South Bend Today for Mrs. Geyer

Funeral services were held this afternoon for Mrs. Ella Ribble Geyer, wife of Rev. Albin C. Geyer, retired minister who died in the St. Joseph hospital Friday afternoon at 4:45. The services were held in her home with the Rev. B.D. Beck, district superintendent of the Methodist church officiating. Burial was made in Silver Brook cemetery in Niles.

Mrs. Geyer, daughter of Tobias and Rebecca Ribble, was born at Niles and educated in the public schools here. She was untied in marriage with A.C. Geyer, a school teacher in the community and shortly afterward he entered the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal church. Together they began the ministry on South Bend c circuit thirty-nine years ago. Among the churches they served were the Thorntown church and st. Paul's church, Lafayette, Ind.; the Fourth street church, Sterling, Ill.; First Church in Alton, Ill.; and the First Church in Carbondale, Ill.

Last September Mr. and Mrs. Geyer deciding to retire from active life, returned to South Bend, locating on Dixie highway north in Wooddale.

Surviving Mrs. Geyer, besides her husband, are three daughters, Mrs. W.W.H. Mustaine, Albany, N.Y.' Mrs. H.P. Maas, New York City, and Mrs. C.R. Megowen, Toledo, O.; also two brothers, Amos F. Ribble, Niles and John J., South Bend and three sisters, Mrs. B.F. Willard, South Bend, Mrs. C.H. Johnson and Mrs. Julia Childs, Niles.

Gross, Pauline Helen 1929-1930

editor Obituaries

Pauline Helen Gross
May 1, 1929-April 29, 1930

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Tuesday, April 29, 1930, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief: DEATH OF BABY GROSS

Funeral services for the daughter, age 11 months, of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Gross, who died this morning at their home in Howard township, will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock in the Troost and Augustine chapel. The Rev. W. Keith Chidister, rector of Trinity Episcopal church, will officiate. Burial will be made in Silver Brook cemetery. Mr. Gross formerly lived at Third and Pokagon streets in Niles.

 

Freeier, Mary (Parker) 1853-1930

editor Obituaries

Mary Parker Freeier
Aug. 14 1853-May 1, 1930

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Friday, May 2, 1930, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief: DEATH MRS. FREERER

Mrs. Mary Parker Freerer, 70, a pioneer resident of Niles died last evening at Pawating hospital where she was taken two weeks ago suffering with stroke of paralysis having been found soon after she was stricken at her home 21 Ferry street, the house in which she was born and where she had lived during her entire life time until she was stricken. When she was a young woman her father was accidentally drowned in the St. Joseph river near their home. Mrs. Freerer loved flowers and for many years the beauty and the variety of the flowers in her garden, so long as her health permitted her to attend to them has been a source of admiration to many, and she was generous in her distribution of them. The funeral services will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2:30 in the Rutherford Funeral Home. Burial will be made in Silver Brook cemetery.

Rupe, Infant 1930-1930

editor Obituaries

Infant Rupe
March 19, 1930-March 19, 1930

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Thursday, March 20, 1930, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief: DEATH INFANT RUPE

Funeral services for the son born yesterday to Mr. and Mrs. Byron Rupe will be held tomorrow morning at 2 o'clock in the Troost and Augustine chapel. The Rev. O.P. Miles, pastor of the First Baptist church will officiate. Burial will be made in Silver Brook cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. Rupe reside on the former Ed. Bair farm near the city electric light plant.

Randall, Hattie Parsons 1845-1930

editor Obituaries

Hattie Parsons Randall
1845-April 28, 1930

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Tuesday, April 29, 1930, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief: DEATH MRS. EDSON RANDALL

Mrs. Hattie Parsons Randall, widow of Edson Randall, a former resident of Niles, died last evening at the home in Dowagiac where she had been receiving care after being released from Lee Sanitarium where she was a patient for a month. Mr. Randall was a brother of Mrs. Stanley Collins of Niles. He died eight years ago. He was twice married his first wife having been Nettie Charles of Niles. Funeral services for Mrs. Randall will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock in her home in Dowagiac. The body will be brought to Niles for burial this afternoon to complete arrangements for the funeral and will attend the services there and the committal services here tomorrow. Mrs. Randall was possibly 85 years of age. She was brought to Niles directly after the death of both her parents from cholera when that disease swept Chicago in an early day. She grew to young womanhood here but for many years she as lived in Dowagiac. No relatives are known to survive. A daughter of Mr. Randall, Mrs. Edna Randall Hawks is a teacher in a normal college in Pullman, Wash.



Costner-Hecht, Judith (Kincaid) 1950-2020

editor Obituaries

Judith Costner-Hecht, of Union
July 25, 1950-Nov. 11, 2020

Niles Daily Star, Published 1:44 pm Friday, November 13, 2020

Judith Costner-Hecht, 70, of Union, passed Nov. 11, 2020. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. with visitation one hour prior on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2020, at Brown Funeral Home. BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com.

 

Published at https://brownfuneralhomeniles.com/tribute/details/2968/Judith-Costner-Hecht/obituary.html

Obituary of Judith Ann Costner-Hecht

Judith Ann Costner-Hecht, 70, of Union, Michigan passed away at IU Health University Hospital in Indianapolis on Wednesday, November 11, 2020. Judy was born on July 25, 1950, to Harry and Sadie (Fleeman) Kincaid in Manilla, Arkansas where she grew up as one of four children. In February of 2018 Judy wed Michael Hecht in Cassopolis. Judy loved to travel, ride on her motorcycle, visit family and friends, collecting dolls, and shopping. She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Ruthie Kincaid. Judy is survived by her husband, Michael Hecht of Union, Michigan; children, Terry Costner of Ligonier, Indiana, Lisa (Lyle Rector) Costner of South Bend, Marvin (Kali) Costner of Terre Haute, Indiana, Jonathan, (Caitlyn Maynor) Costner of Union, Michigan; step-sons, Luke (Nicole) Hecht of Bangor, Michigan and Bill Hecht of Sturgis, Michigan; twenty-one grandchildren; seven step-grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; one step-great-grandchild; sisters, Wanda Hood of Manilla, Arkansas and Barbara Palmore of Odell, Arkansas; her beloved dog, Tater-tot; and many extended family and close friends. Funeral services to celebrate Judy's life will be held on Tuesday, November 17, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home in Niles with a time of visitation one hour prior. Condolences, photos, and memories may be left for the family at www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Niles.

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