Submitted by: Dan Rich
Daune Niles Brooks
South Bend Tribune 12/18/2007
SOUTH BEND - Mrs. Daune Niles Brooks, 89, passed away Dec.
14th at 11:00 p.m. in Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, South
Bend, IN. Born December 3, 1918, in Howell, MI, she was the
daughter of Joseph and Maude Ladouceur. Daune was the
youngest of six children and the last surviving sibling. Daune
was born to dance which was evident from the time she won her
first of many talent contests at age five. She left high school
at 16 (getting her GED later in life as education was also
important to her) to pursue her dream of dancing professionally.
She went on the road with the Beatrice Gardener dancers, then
toured the country with her partner, Marge, in the George White
Scandals and went on to perform in the first American USO tour
with Alan Jones. Her career was cut short after breaking her leg
several times (literally). Being so dedicated, she finished her
final performance on a broken leg.
The next phase of her life began by marrying
Carroll W. Niles in June 1948. They moved to Elkhart,
making many friends along the way, and became owners of the Niles
Grocery Store which later became the Niles Laundromat. Shortly
thereafter they started their family. Eventually, the family
moved to the shores of the St. Joseph River where Daune became a
happy homemaker and relished spending time with her family. Her
creative juices always flowing, she loved decorating her home and
designing and sewing her own clothing, never one to sit still.
Daune and Carroll retired to Florida where she resumed her
passion for dance. She danced in New Port Richey with the Guys
and Dolls and then the Happy Hoofers until her 85th birthday. Her
husband Carroll of 38 years died in 1986. She later married
Arthur Brooks, who survives along with her son, Jonathan
(Carol) Niles of Freeport, N.Y., Jennifer (George, Jr.) Forray of
Granger; grandchildren, Jonathan, Carolyn, Nicholas of Freeport,
Alexandra and Andrea of Granger.
Visitation will be Thursday from 11 AM to 1
PM with a memorial service to follow at 1 PM in the McGann Hay
Funerals / Cremations / Gatherings, Granger Chapel, 13260 S.R. 23
(enter off Cherry Road), Granger. In lieu of flowers, memorial
contributions may be made to the American Heart Association.