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.

Meldrim, Ruth L.

Ruth L. Meldrim
Jan. 16, 1901-Feb. 11, 1966


Niles Daily Star, Friday, February 11, 1966, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

 

Mrs. Ruth L. Meldrim, 2211 Yankee St., died at 4 a.m. today in South Bend Memorial Hospital. She had been a patient there for three weeks.

Mrs. Meldrim was born Jan. 16, 1901, in Wabash County, Ind. She spent most of her lifetime here.

She is survived by her husband, Wilber H. Meldrim; two daughters, Mrs. Dale Deditch, Niles, and Mrs. Marvin Dale of South Bend; and one son, Wilber Jr., also of South Bend.

Also surviving are five grandchildren.

Funeral services will be conducted at the Pifer Funeral Home Monday at 1:30 p.m., with the Rev. John MacLaclan of the First Presbyterian Church officiating.

Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home after 7 p.m. Saturday.

Friends may donate to the Cancer Society.

 

Minard, Mary

Mary Minard
Dec. 5, 1916-Dec. 5, 2001


Niles Daily Star, Thursday, December 6, 2001, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Mary Minard, 85, of 52654 N. Ironwood Road, South Bend, Ind. will be Friday, Dec. 7 at 11 a.m. at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home in Niles.

Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Minard died of natural causes Wednesday, Dc. 5 at Regency Place in South Bend, Ind.

Minard was born Dec. 5, 1916 in Fall River, Mass. On Nov. 18, 1834, she married George w. Minard, Sr. in Newark, N.J. He preceded her in death. She was a housewife.

Survivors include: one daughter, Nancy Hivley of South Plainfield, N.J.; two sons, George W. Minard, Jr. of Niles and Richard D. Minard of Alexandria, Va.; eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and one sister, Janice Galeotafiore of Oldridge, N.J.

Friends may call one hour prior to services Friday at the funeral home.

 

Mitchell, James A.

James A. Mitchell
July 3, 1931-Nov. 21, 1999


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, November 23, 1999, page 2, col, 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for James A. Mitchell, 68, formerly of 1916 S. 15th St., Niles, will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, by the Rev. Richard L. Rice of Niles. Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles. Mitchell died Sunday, Nov. 21, at Elkhart General Hospital, Elkhart, Ind., following an extended illness.

Born July 3, 1931, in Hacklerburg, Ala., he had lived in Niles for the last 30 years, coming from Oregon. In 1983 he retired from Tyler Refrigeration in Niles. He attended the Christian Center Cathedral of Praise in South Bend, Ind. He was a Veteran of the U.S. Army serving during the Korean Conflict and was a member of American Legion Post 26, Niles. He enjoyed camping and fishing.

Surviving family includes: a son, Scott A. Mitchell of Elkhart, Ind.; a daughter, Christy Miller of Goshen, Ind.; two grandsons, Ryan Joseph Mitchell of Elkhart, Ind., and Bradley Bishop of Goshen, Ind.; four brothers, Harold D. Mitchell of Niles, Carl D. Mitchell of Hobart, Ind., Olan L. Mitchell of Lebanon, Ore., Bob J. Mitchell of Albany, Ore.; and a sister, Verlene Partlow of Bakersfield, Calif.

He was preceded in death by two sisters and one brother.

Friends may call from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles. A Flag Presentation will follow the Committal at Graveside by John McLaughlin, Commander of American Legion Post 26.

Memorial contributions may go to the American Cancer Society.

 

Morros, Esther A.

Esther A. Morros
Nov. 8, 1895-Feb. 9, 1966


Niles Daily Star, Thursday, February 19, 1966, page 2, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Esther A. Morros, 70, of 406 Harger St., died at 11 a.m. Wednesday in her home. She was born in Milton Township Nov. 8, 1895, and was a lifetime resident of this area.

Her husband, Mervin L., died Feb. 24, 1958.

She is survived by two children, Mervin L. Morros and Mrs. Evelyn Moneysmith, both of Niles; five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be conducted at the Pifer Funeral Home at 1:30 p.m. Saturday. The Rev. Arlan E. Schlundt, pastor of St. John's United Church of Christ will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends are being received at the funeral home.

 

Nichols, Charles H.

Charles H. Nichols
May 8, 1857-Aug. 22, 1935


Niles Daily Star, Friday, August 23, 1935, page 1, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

NICHOLS FUNERAL RITES SATURDAY

Retired Executive of French Paper Company Dies at Family Home

 

Charles H. Nichols, 78, a retired executive of the French Paper company, died at 5 o'clock Thursday afternoon after a prolonged illness. His death occurred at his home, 548 Cherry street.

Mr. Nichols was born in Comstock, Mich., May 8, 1857. He came to Niles from Three Rivers 43 years ago, as superintendent of the French Paper company.

Surviving are six children: Mrs. Roy Babcock, Niles; Mrs. Eugene U. Bingham, South Bend; Warren, Neal, Ray and Charles Nichols, of Niles, also 12 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Saturday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock at the family home. The Rev. Harry L. Nicholson, rector of Trinity Episcopal church, will officiate and burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Friends of the family may call at the home until the hour of the funeral.

 

Reif, Christiana

Christiana Reif
May 11, 1837-April 20, 1907


Niles Daily Star, Monday, April 22, 1907, page 3, col, 3, microfilm Niles District Library

The funeral of Mrs. Christian Reif will take place at St. John's Evangelical church at 2 o'clock tomorrow afternoon, Rev. F. Rahn officiating. The Ladies Aid society, of which Mrs. Reif was a charter member will attend the services in a body. Interment will take place at Silver Brook.

Schaen, Paul Herbert

Paul Herbert Schaen
Dec. 27, 1897-Jan. 29, 1982


Niles Daily Star, Monday, February 1, 1982, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Paul Herbert Schaen, 84, 1716 Ontario, died Friday night at his home after a brief illness.

A member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Schaen was a retired employee of South Bend Lathe Co.

His wife, Ruth, died in 1945.

Survivors include two sons, Paul R. of Newport Beach, Calif. and Frederic W. of Brooklyn, N.Y.; four daughters, Dorothea Hardy of Mishawaka, May VanDyke and Dorris McKibbin both of Niles and Clara Huff, Jones; a brother, A.J. Schaen of Lafayette, Ind. and a sister, Mary H. Holmes of Muncie; 16 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

Services for Paul Herbert Schaen will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Paul's Lutheran Church. Rev. Michael Schulz will officiate and burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.  Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.  Monday at the funeral home. Memorials may be given to the St. Paul's Lutheran Church Memorial Fund.