Helen Peters

 Helen K. Peters, age 92 years of Niles, Michigan died with her family gathered around at 12:06 p.m. on Saturday, March 5, 2016 at Lakeland Hospital – Niles following a brief illness.

She was born on March 30, 1923 in Niles to Edmund William and Freida B. (Albrecht) Schadler. She graduated from Niles High School, and has lived here all of her life. She was first employed at the former Niles plant of Simplicity Pattern Company, but is best remembered assisting her husband at East Main Gardens Florist in Niles. She worked at East Main Gardens every day for over 60 years, including helping into her 90’s.

Helen enjoyed wintering in Pharr, Texas, sitting in the sun, and watching the birds, especially humming birds. She also enjoyed their home on Barron Lake, where she relished the warm summer weather, gardening and spending time with family and friends. She was also known to play euchre, make “quick” trips to the casino, and frequent the local diners for breakfast. But her greatest interest was her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, rarely missing an opportunity to spend time with them. Birthdays, graduations, sporting events, births, weddings, holidays, and family gatherings are just a few examples that brought her the greatest joy.

On April 10, 1948 in Niles she married Roy G. Peters with whom she celebrated the forty-sixth anniversary of their wedding prior to his death on October 25, 1994. She was also preceded in death by a brother, John Schadler on April 3, 2014.

Surviving family includes a son, Mike Peters of Niles; grandchildren Tarah (& Doug) McLeod, Michael (& Lacey) Peters, Amber (& Ajay) Lind, and Mathew Peters, and their mother, Denise Peters; great-grandchildren Lily Sherwood, Avery McLeod, Maddox Peters, Hadley McLeod, Kinsley McLeod, and Memphis Peters; and Helen’s brother, Edward Schadler and sister, Lorraine (& John) Armitage, both of Niles, and several nieces and nephews.

The funeral for Helen Peters will be at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 9, 2016 at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with Pastor Jeffrey L. Whittaker of the Michiana Christian Embassy officiating. Committal will follow at the Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends on Tuesday from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Friends and family are encouraged to surround Helen with flowers, as that was her life-long passion. Monetary contributions in memory of Helen may also be made to the Niles High School Athletic Booster Club or Niles Elks Lodge.