Jacquelin A. Czarnecki

Jacquelin A. Czarnecki, 91, passed away peacefully in her sleep September 4, 2023.

Born November 30, 1931, she was the daughter of the late Charles A. and Ferne (Titus) Ferrettie.

On August 22, 1953, Jacquelin married the love of her life, Joseph Czarnecki, at St. Joseph Church in Mishawaka. He preceded her in death in 2013. She was also preceded in death by three siblings, Charles, Jean and Mary Ferrettie.

Left to cherish her memory are six children, Gregory (Kathy) Czarnecki of Wasilla, Alaska, Linda Czarnecki of South Bend, Kenneth (Joy) Czarnecki of Granger, John Czarnecki of Fort Lauderdale, Florida,  Kara (Ralph) Onderdonk of Mishawaka and Steven Czarnecki of South Bend; twelve grandchildren, Aaron (Brittany) Czarnecki, Amberly (Craig) Berger, Shelly (Shane) Harbert, Scott (Amy) Czarnecki, Kaila Czarnecki, Jessica (Travis) Parrish, Christine Czarnecki, Halle Czarnecki, Daniel (Tiffany) Madaras, Erika (Alex) Bendix, Andrew Madaras and Michael (Katherine) Madaras; and ten great-grandchildren; Asher, Axl, Esme, Easton, Ava, Caden, Maddie, Logan, Nathan and Summer.

Jacquelin was a loving and devoted wife, mom and grandma, and her family was always the most important part of her life. She was active and healthy to the end, and enjoyed many activities at StoryPoint, where she resided. She was humble and modest, never wanting to be in the spotlight. She enjoyed and excelled at being a homemaker and she also helped in the family business-Princess Flower and Gift Shop, alongside her husband. She had a strong faith and prayed the Rosary daily. She lived a long happy life, and leaves behind a beautiful legacy. She will be dearly missed.

Visitation will be Friday, Sept. 8 from 1-2:30 p.m., with the Rosary being prayed at 2:30 p.m., at the McGann Hay, Granger Chapel, 13260 SR23, enter off Cherry Rd. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park.

Memorial donations may be made to either St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, the Alzheimer's Association, or the American Lung Association.

Thank You Mom

You were loving, always putting our needs above your own.  You helped Dad during his many health problems, never complaining.  And while Dad spent six continuous months in Hines Veterans Hospital (Chicago) undergoing life-saving surgeries and prolonged therapy, you kept the family business afloat while also raising five young children.  Even though family resources remained tight for so many years, we have so much for which to thank you.  Thank you for insisting upon a quality faith-based education at St Anthony’s grade school where the nuns weren’t too scary provided, we finished our homework.  Thank you for our annual summer memberships at McKinley Terrace Pool where we hung out with great friends, ate frozen Milky Way bars, and eventually learned how to swim without swallowing too much water.  Thank you for allowing us to have a menagerie of pets over the years, helping us develop a love and respect for animals.  Thank you for the wonderful dinners you cooked after church on Sundays.  Thank you for summer road trips where the eight of us packed into the “business” station wagon…together with luggage, a sloshing container of iced lemonade, and cooler full of sandwiches.  And thanks for fining us only 75-cents when we argued and elbowed each other for more space. 

We love you Mom and you will remain in our hearts forever.

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