By Staff
Martha Mae Vernier, 84, of Eagle Street, Niles, died at 5:35 a.m. Tuesday, June 16, 2009, at Lakeland Community Hospital, Niles.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 18, at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, with the Rev. Kyle Gardner of Saint John's United Church of Christ, of Niles, officiating.
Internment will be held at Mission Hills Memorial Gardens in Niles.
The family will receive relatives and friends at the funeral home one hour prior to the services on Thursday.
She was born on Oct. 5, 1924, in Niles to Eli and Marie (Smith) Zechlin. She graduated from Niles High School in 1942 and was a longtime resident of Niles.
In 1980, she retried after 33 year of service to the Kawneer Company.
She was a member of the American Legion Post No. 26 and Lady Elks Lodge No. 1322, both in Niles and the Yankee Street Neighborhood Club.
She was a very active volunteer with meals on Wheels and the the Niles Senior Center.
On June 5, 1948, in Saint John's United Church of Christ in Niles, she married Duane G. Vernier, who preceded her in death on Sept. 21, 1999.
Surviving family includes a daughter, Susan (Gary Grooms) Mathews of South Bend, Ind.; granddaughter, Jennifer Marie (Brett) Hmiel; sister, Doris Kennedy; brother, Lewis "Sparky" Zechlin, both of Niles and many nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Niles Elks Lodge or Niles Senior Center.
Arrangements were by Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.