Brandon Marazita, 20, of Reynolds Street, Niles, died at 5:10 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2011 at Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center in Mishawaka following an extended illness.

He was born Sept. 19, 1990 in South Bend to John and Kimberly A. (Messenger) Marazita, Jr. He attended Brandywine High School in Niles and was a lifetime resident of the area. He was employed for more than four years at Pete’s Marathon in Niles; owned and operated Brandon’s Metal Recycling in Niles; and was employed at Performance Graphics in Elkhart, Ind.

Brandon was a member of St. Mark Catholic Church in Niles. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, restoring automobiles and was an avid NASCAR fan, especially of the driver of the No. 24 car, Jeff Gordon.

He is survived by his parents, John and Kim Marazita of Niles; sisters and brothers, Crystal (Brandon) Clubb of Niles, John (Claude) Marazita II of East Lansing, Mich., Cassie Lynn Marazita and Wayne Marazita, both of Niles; maternal grandmother, Linda Messenger Bowlin, and paternal grandmother, Irene M. (Van Vynckt) Marazita, both of Niles; several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins; and a fiancee, Chelsea N. McBain of Niles.

He was preceded in death by maternal great-grandfather, Ferman Turner, who died July 3, 2001; maternal grandfather, LaMarr Messenger, who died Jan. 11, 2000; and paternal grandfather, John Marazita, Sr., who died Dec. 25, 2000.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Brandon Marazita will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 15, 2011 at St. Mark Catholic Church in Niles with the Rev. Thomas King, C.S.C., of the church officiating.

Committal rites will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Family will receive friends and relatives from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with recitation of The Rosary at 7 p.m.

Contributions in memory of Brandon may be made to the Brandon Marazita Memorial Fund at First Source Bank of Niles.