By JESSICA SIEFF
Niles Daily Star

A street sign on Lake Street toward Hope Community Church in Niles marks the upcoming intersection of Carberry Road. The road will, for some time to come, be synonymous with a tragedy that has rocked the Niles community.

The impact of the death of husband and wife John and Carolyn Tarwacki was evident Thursday morning as one by one, friends and family filed into the church for the couple’s funeral service.
“These are days when people come to pastors for answers,” said the Rev. Patricia Haas, of Pokagon United Methodist Church in Niles.

Answers as to what happened to a couple that have been described as “model citizens,” caring and loving people who were always willing to help other and give of themselves in the early morning hours just one week ago today, their bodies found in their home.

As mourners overflowed the church’s sanctuary, filling folding chairs in the lobby, the Southwest Michigan College Brass Band played music so loved by Carolyn it had also been played at her wedding to John.

An answer to the tragedy, Haas said, was something that remained out of reach.

As investigators continue to look into the deaths of the couple, with no new developments to speak of, Haas, along with the Rev. David Bartley of the First Church of the Nazarene and the Rev. Cornelius Ryan of Little Flower Catholic Church, both in South Bend, tried to find the words to comfort family and friends.

“Just being here expresses so much,” Ryan said. “It’s so hard to carry things alone.
“You’re here today because you were touched by the lives of Carolyn and John,” he added.
Evidence of who John and Carolyn Tarwacki were could be found in the photos that were set up in the church lobby, the folded American flag on John’s casket and the euphonium, which Carolyn had loved to play, secured atop flowers.

The two were remembered for their love for others, their faith and their kindness. Having heard stories of the Niles native prior to the service from family and friends, Haas described Carolyn as a “giving, loving, self-reliant woman” who grew up on a farm with her sister and, after her family, loved music.
Left without answers, Haas said there was one thing she could tell the grieving congregation: “I can tell you, this was not part of God’s plan for John and Carolyn,” Haas said.

A procession of an estimated 90 cars made its way from the church to Silverbrook Cemetery the husband and wife would be laid to rest side by side.

Ring Lardner Middle School band director Stephen Bizoe played “Taps” as a veteran’s flag presentation was performed to honor John’s service in the U.S. Navy.

The sound cut through the snow-covered grounds as many held each other and cried.
Police are still searching for the person responsible in the killings, looking for a person of interest described as a white male, between 20 and 30 years old, medium-build with brown hair, in the vicinity of Carberry Road and Yankee Street on the morning of Friday, Feb. 5.

The Southwestern Michigan College class of 1989 is hoping to set up a scholarship fund in memory of the couple.

Anyone with information to aid police in the search for the person responsible for the deaths of John and Carolyn Tarwacki are urged to contact the Michigan State Police immediately at 683-4411.