Evelyn Mae McNinch

Evelyn Mae “Peaches” McNinch, age 84 years of Niles, Michigan; mother, grandmother, sister, animal lover, card player, and dancer died peacefully at 3:50 p.m. on Sunday, October 8, 2023 at Riveridge Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center in Niles following a brief illness.  Her family is grateful for the kind and compassionate care provided by the staff of Riveridge and Gentiva Hospice.

She was born on July 14, 1939 in Paris, Michigan to William Jason and Jennie May (Loughin) Commins, and moved with her family the next year to Niles.  She attended Niles Community Schools, and Brandywine Adult Education.  She was employed in the service sector for many years, doing housekeeping at the original Holiday Inn in Niles and bussing and dishwashing at the B&L Inn, but her true life’s vocation was caring for her family and raising her children.

Evelyn loved animals, especially her pet cats, but she also enjoyed reading romance novels from a variety of authors, and sitting around a card table with family members or friends playing hearts or spades, or euchre.  Those friends liked to dance, and would take Evelyn with them to the popular area dance halls and clubs including Kubiak’s.

She was married for several years to Lester McNinch.  She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Jennie Commins, and by her siblings, Frances Helms, Minnie Owens, Ernie Commins, Charles Commins, Edwin Commins, and Harry Commins.

Surviving family includes her children, Vala (& Jeff) Brandon and Robert Commins, both of Niles; grandchildren Jennifer (& Toan) Nguyen, Patricia (& Shannon) Wheeler, and Amanda Kwist; great-grandchildren, Reagan Nguyen, Griffin Nguyen, and Charlie Wheeler; and Evelyn’s sisters, Mary Gallimore of Nappanee, Indiana and Delores Hoopcaugh of Watervilet, Michigan; and many nieces and nephews.

The family of Evelyn McNinch will gather privately, at a later date, for Committal Services at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.  Arrangements were completed at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home, 615 East Main Street in Niles.  Online condolences may be left at:

www.halbritterwickens.com

Eighty-four years is a long life, and Peaches used those years well, caring for hotel and restaurant patrons, caring for animals and for her friends; and above all, caring for her family especially Val and Bob and their children and grandchildren.