Ernestine Helen Swidrak's Obituary
Ernestine Swidrak, 85, of Fredericksburg passed away Friday, July 25, 2014 at Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center.
Ernie was born December 17, 1928 in Tennessee. She worked at Falmouth Elementary School serving kids in the cafeteria and volunteering in the nursery at St. Matthias United Methodist Church and Eastland United Methodist Church.
Her last job was at the Fredericksburg YMCA in the nursery where she was affectionately known to the kids as “Nana Ernie”. Her greatest fulfillment of all was working with the children.
Ernie, known as “mom” to many, loved having children in her home, while maintaining a smooth, organized, very clean running house, doing yard work, cooking meals from scratch and teaching others her secret recipes. Her home was always open to anyone that needed assistance, whether it was a meal or a place to stay for a day or even months.
She has touched many lived in her 85 years and she will be missed and live on in those who knew her.
She is survived by her children, John Swidrak and his wife, Portia, Brenda Chemelewski and her husband, Frank, Charlie Swidrak and his wife, Brenda, Robert Swidrak and Patty Wheelehan and her husband, Michael; a brother, J.C. Warrick; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Stanley Swidrak.
Services will be held at a later date.
Ernie is at peace and no longer in pain. She has joined her husband in heaven and is watching over us.
Online condolences may be expressed to Ernie’s family at foundandsons.com.
What’s your fondest memory of Ernestine?
What’s a lesson you learned from Ernestine?
Share a story where Ernestine's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Ernestine you’ll never forget.
How did Ernestine make you smile?