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Jerome Woods
BENTON HARBOR - Mr. Jerome Woods was born Sept. 30, 1960, in St. Louis, Mo., to the union of L. C. Woods and Nancy Brantley.
He moved to Benton Harbor at an early age and attended the Benton Harbor area school system.
He departed this life July 9, 2009, at Lakeland Regional Medical Center, St. Joseph.
He leaves cherished memories in the hearts of his loving mother, Nancy Brantley; two sisters, Rosie Sims, Little Rock, Ark., and Cherry Woods, Minn.; eight brothers, Jerome (Cheryl) McIntosh, South Bend, Ind., L. C. Woods Jr., M.C. Woods, Tommy Woods, Benton Harbor, James L. Woods, Detroit, Richard (June) Woods; three aunts, Mary Ward, Beatrice Johnson and Mary Velasquez; and a host of relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his father, L C Woods Sr.; one sister, Renee Woods; and grandparents, Sam and Ada McIntosh.
Funeral services will be Friday at New Paradise Baptist Church, with visitation at 11 a.m. and service at 12 p.m. Family Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Hildegard Tichy
BUCHANAN - Hildegard Tichy, 91, of Buchanan died at 8:30 p.m. Monday, July 13, 2009, at Lakeland Community Hospital, Niles, of natural causes.
Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. Thrusday, July 16, at St. Anthony's Catholic Church, Buchanan with the Rev. Donald Suberlak of St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church, Three Oaks officiating. Burial will be in Oak Ridge Cemetery at a later date. Friends called from 9 to 10 a.m. today at St. Anthony's Catholic Church, Buchanan.
Mrs. Tichy was born June 25, 1918, in Weiswasser, Czech Republic, and lived here since 1951. She was a homemaker and a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Port Aransas, Texas.
She is survived by her husband, Alois Tichy of Buchanan; a daughter, Eveline (Robert) Sterba of Palm Beach, Fla.; two grandchilden; four great-grandchildren; and a sister, Elfi Weiser of Haag, Germany.
Dorothy (Wendt) Gast
ST. JOSEPH - Dorothy E. (Wendt) Gast, 87, of St. Joseph passed away on Tuesday, July 13, 2009, at her home in St. Joseph.
A funeral service celebrating her life will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, July 16, at Riverview Park Christian Church, 2929 Niles Road in St. Joseph. Burial will follow in Riverview Cemetery. Visitation will be held today, July 15, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made Riverview Park Christian Church.
Dorothy was born on April 9, 1922, in St. Joseph to Adam and Melinda (Ferus) Wendt. She married Harold Myron Gast on Nov. 16, 1940, in St. Joseph.
Dorothy's family meant everything to her. She loved spending time in her flower garden and bird watching. She loved to be on the go, whether on weekend trips camping in Baldwin, visiting family and friends or going to the church mission house on Crystal Lake in Frankfort, Mich. She was a licensed daycare provider for more than 60 years and spent more 30 years as a Sunday school teacher, choir member and church financial secretary at Riverview Park Christian.
Dorothy is survived by her two daughters, Linda Rogers of St. Joseph and Clara (John) Churchill of St. Joseph, and her one son, Harold (Bonnie) Gast of Coloma. She was survived by one foster daughter, Rochelle Corder of St. Joseph, two sisters, Phyllis Wycoff of St. Joseph and Marilyn Reimer of Eau Claire. She is also survived by six grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchild.
She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, and two brothers, Clarence and Wilbur Wendt.
Osie Lee Gaines Sr.
COVERT - Osie Lee Gaines Sr., 83, of Covert died Monday, July 13, 2009, at Countryside Nursing and Rehabilitation Community.
He was born Sept. 29, 1925, in Chatfield, Ark., to Noman and Lucille (Strickland) Gaines. Osie worked for Auto Specialties in Benton Harbor for 30 years. Osie loved to travel, especially to Hawaii where he had visited several times.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and his brother, LC Gaines.
He is survived by his children - Osie L. (Barbara) Gaines Jr. of Stone Mt., Ga., Danny Gaines of Benton Harbor and Linda (Bernard) Wright of Douglasville, Ga.; five grandchildren - Joycelyen Marie Gaines, Berlinda D. Wright, Bernard Wright Jr., Bevin Brighida Gaines and Osie L. (Michelle) Gaines III.; one great-granddaughter - Penelope Kathleen Gaines; four sisters - AV "Pat" McClain of Covert, Linda Miller of Luxora, Ark., Virgie Paige of Covert and Ruby Gardner of St. Paul, Minn.; two brothers - Pleses "Mike" Gaines and LeRoy Paige, both of Chicago; and a special nephew - James Estell.
Visitation will be Friday, July 17, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Filbrandt Family Funeral Home in South Haven. Funeral services will be Saturday, July 18, at 12 p.m. at the funeral home with Pastor Gene Bailey officiating. Burial will take place in Covert Cemetery in Covert Township.
Osie Lee Gaines Sr.
COVERT - Osie Lee Gaines Sr., 83, of Covert died Monday, July 13, 2009, at Countryside Nursing and Rehabilitation Community.
He was born Sept. 29, 1925, in Chatfield, Ark., to Noman and Lucille (Strickland) Gaines. Osie worked for Auto Specialties in Benton Harbor for 30 years. Osie loved to travel, especially to Hawaii where he had visited several times.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and his brother, LC Gaines.
He is survived by his children - Osie L. (Barbara) Gaines Jr. of Stone Mt., Ga., Danny Gaines of Benton Harbor and Linda (Bernard) Wright of Douglasville, Ga.; five grandchildren - Joycelyen Marie Gaines, Berlinda D. Wright, Bernard Wright Jr., Bevin Brighida Gaines and Osie L. (Michelle) Gaines III.; one great-granddaughter - Penelope Kathleen Gaines; four sisters - AV "Pat" McClain of Covert, Linda Miller of Luxora, Ark., Virgie Paige of Covert and Ruby Gardner of St. Paul, Minn.; two brothers - Pleses "Mike" Gaines and LeRoy Paige, both of Chicago; and a special nephew - James Estell.
Visitation will be Friday, July 17, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Filbrandt Family Funeral Home in South Haven. Funeral services will be Saturday, July 18, at 12 p.m. at the funeral home with Pastor Gene Bailey officiating. Burial will take place in Covert Cemetery in Covert Township.
Manuel Camarena
COLOMA - Manuel Camarena, formerly of Merrillville, Ind., died peacefully at his current home in Coloma on Sunday, July 5, 2009. Manuel was born Sept. 29, 1920, in Yuriria Guanajuato, Mexico, to Manuel and Cirela (Varela) Camarena. He retired from Inland Steel in East Chicago, Ind., and was a World War II veteran. Manuel was a pacifist who believed only in war as a need to maintain the U.S. status of freedom. He loved animals, reading, and studying on his own, specifically medical books and world history. Manuel loved music of all kinds: Mexican Mariachis, Beethoven, the B-52s, and Santana. After the war, Manuel took up photography. He developed and retouched his own photographs. He could always be found with a camera and a bagful of lenses on his arm.
A Memorial mass will be held 10 a.m. CST Saturday, July 18, at St. Mark's Catholic Parish, 505 West Ridge Road, Gary, Ind. 46408.
He is survived by his wife, Ernestina (Villagomez) and daughter, Pat Rose and grandson, Kael Rose of Coloma; sisters, Emily (Ralph) Duenas of Gary, Helen Martinez and Trinidad Varela from Merrillville; nephew, Paul Varela (Erica Ragan) of Lowell, Ind.; sisters-and brothers-in law: Teresa Velasques, Lupe Flores, Josefina Flores, Juana Beltran, Adolfo Villagomez and Aurelio Villagomez, all of Mexico; and various other nieces, nephews, second and third cousins.
In addition to his parents, Manuel was preceded in death by cousin, the Rev. Jesus V. Panotja, son-in-law, Kirk A. Rose, in-laws, Rafael and Piedad Villagomez, and uncle, Jose Varela.
Sam A. Mandarino
ST. JOSEPH - Sam A. Mandarino, 91, of St. Joseph passed away on Sunday, July 12, 2009, at his home with his loving family by his side.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 16, at St. Bernard Catholic Church, 555 Delaware St., Benton Harbor, with Father Bill Jacobs officiating. Visitation will be held at the church before the service from 10 to 11 a.m. Burial with military honors will take place at Hickory Bluff Cemetery, Stevensville. Memorials may be directed to Lakeshore Youth Baseball. Those wishing to send a message of condolence may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.
Sam Mandarino Jr. was born on July 6, 1918, to Samuel and Anna (Marchese) Mandarino in Chicago. He graduated from Benton Harbor High School in 1936. Sam served his country in the U.S. Navy during Pearl Harbor in World War II. He married his wife, Alice, on Aug. 24, 1940, in Benton Harbor, MI. Together they raised four children, Don, Bonnie, Janet and Scott. Sam retired from Whirlpool Corp. in 1985 after many years of devoted service and as union president. He was responsible for bringing the Harlem Globetrotters basketball team to the Benton Harbor Armory in 1946. Sam coached Lakeshore Boys Baseball teams for many years. He was known for starting the Lakeshore Youth Baseball Complex in Stevensville. He was an avid Notre Dame football and Chicago Cubs fan. Most of all, he will be missed by his family.
Sam is survived by his wife, Alice (Yendes) Mandarino; children, Don Mandarino, Bonnie (Larry) Miller, Janet (Don) Zwar, all of St. Joseph, and Scott Mandarino of Stevensville; grandchildren, Terri (Rick) Schlee, Mike Mandarino, Karen Mandarino, Steve Zwar, Mitch Mandarino and Zach Mandarino; great-grandchildren, Kali Schlee, Nick Schlee; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Anna and Sam Mandarino Sr., and his brothers and sister, Frank, Pete, Tony, Jim and Millie Mandarino.
Malisie Golliday
BENTON HARBOR - Malisie Golliday was born Aug. 27, 1927, in Catron, Mo. She was the fourth of eight children born to the union of Wesley Nesbitt and Malisie Carrie Golina Tidwell Nesbitt.
She accepted the Lord as her personal savior and was baptized at an early age. She attended school in Catron, where she later met and married George Washington Golliday. To this union four children were born.
She moved to Benton Harbor in 1960. She was employed at Berrien General Hospital and Heath Co. for a number of years. She was also a volunteer worker at the Senior Citizen Center for many years.
She was a member of St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Rev. Coleman Gray, founder, and continued her membership under the Rev. John L. Price as a faithful member. She sang in the Senior and Art Choir, and she was a member of the Mothers Board. She always helped whenever asked. She traveled with the church to many of the Black National Conventions, and just enjoyed praising God. She was also a member of the Eastern Star, Rose of Sharon.
After the death of her sister, Mable Moore, Mother Golliday raised her children - Alexander "Suga Foote" Nesbitt, Kerry, Wesley and Wanda Moore. After the death of her granddaughter, La'Shonda Parker, she helped raise Marcus and Alexandria Parker. She also raised from birth a special great-grandson, Alonzo Parker III, known to us as Lil' Man.
Mother Golliday was called to her heavenly home on Thursday, July 9, 2009, at the home of her daughter, Margurie Parker. She leaves to cherish her memory one daughter, Margurie (Alonzo Sr.) Parker; three sons, Lesley (Dorothy) Golliday, James (Ethel) Golliday and George (Robin) Golliday Jr., all of Benton Harbor; and one loving sister who was always by her side in time of need, Pirley Bracken of Kalamazoo. She was blessed to have 15 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandson; 10 godchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, George Washington Golliday; her mother, Malisie Tidwell, and father, Wesley Nesbitt; five brothers, Nathan, Wesley, Clyde, Arthur and Lesley; one sister, Mable Moore; and one granddaughter, La'Shonda Parker.
Mother Golliday's homegoing will be held on Wednesday, July 15, at St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church. Visitation at 10 a.m. with services at 11 a.m. Robbins Brothers Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements with interment at Crystal Springs Cemetery.
