Marna E. (Pethick) Briggs / June 7, 1923 – Nov. 9, 2009

Published 10:13 am Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Marna E. (Pethick) Briggs

Marna E. (Pethick) Briggs

Marna E. (Pethick) Briggs, 86, formerly of Niles, died at 8:50 a.m. Monday, Nov. 9, 2009 at Memorial Hospital in South Bend following an extended illness.

Marna was born June 7, 1023 to Paul Robert Pethick and Mary Tinkham Pethick in Dowagiac. She attended Dowagiac Community Schools and lived in Niles most of her life. She formerly married Lee Dennis Briggs.

She was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Niles, Four Flags Garden Club, Orchard Hills Country Club and Berrien County Home Economics Club. She held season tickets to University of Notre Dame football games. She loved her cats and dogs and enjoyed wildlife.

Survivors include daughters, Gayle Severance, of Niles, Cheryle (Keith) Vogel, of Stevensville, Sandra “Sue” Briggs-Hughes, of Niles; grandchildren, Jeff and Chris Linville, Michelle Ryan and Vicki (Dennis) Bassett, Shelli Knoll and Michael Gleason, Marna McIntosh; great-grandchildren, Brandon Rollins and Sarah (Rollins) Jones, Justin Bassett and Sgt. Christopher Bassett of the U.S. Marines, Pamela and Becky Bailey, Amber, Terra, Shelby and Haley Linville, Tony, Tawny and China Stockbarger, C.J. McIntosh; great-great-grandchildren, Dashawn and J.C. Jones, Carmen Bailey and D.J. Hughes, Anna-Lena (Rollins) Clunger-Klug, Page Rollins; sister, Lucene Daley, of Niles; brother, Terry Pethick, of Niles; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by a daughter, Denise Diane Briggs, who died in infancy; a sister, Doris Burch; and brothers, Dean Pethick and Doyle Pethick.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009 at Trinity Episcopal Church in Niles with the Rev. Richard R. Swanson of Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church in Dowagiac officiating.

Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

There will be no visitation. Arrangements were made by Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society’s Berrien County Relay for Life.