Emily D Amelia DZIERLA

12 APR 1924 - 15 JUN 2013

• BIRTH: 12 APR 1924, South Bend, IN
• BURIAL: St Joseph Cemetery, South Bend, In
• DEATH: 15 JUN 2013, South Bend, IN

• MARRIAGE: 4 AUG 1945, St Stanislaus B & M, South Bend, IN

1.  Charlotte CWIDAK

INDEX

[N6175] Emily D. Cwidak
Apr. 12, 1924 - June 15, 2013
SOUTH BEND - "It's in the click of my heels, the bend of my hair, the palm of my hand, and the need for my care...phenomenal woman." When Maya Angelou wrote those lines, it seems as if she had Emily Cwidak in mind. Emily Cwidak was the youngest, beloved daughter in the devoted and tight knit family of Antoinette and Frank Dzierla. Typical Emily, she was born Amelia, but changed her name in kindergarten (so the story goes); at five years old she had a mind of her own. Her brothers and sisters were Laura, Edwin, Clarice, Frank, Daniel, Angeline, and John, for whom she always had a special place in her heart. A more loyal family would be hard to find. Emily danced and sang through life, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. At any time she could be found tap dancing in her own kitchen while the smells of her wonderful cooking permeated the house. Dancing was just another way to express that joyful spirit. She danced as a young woman and even met her husband, Frank Cwidak (who died in 2007) at one of those dances. They married on August 4, 1945 and began their family in 1946. Her children, Paulette, Charlotte, Annette and Frank were blessed with a mother whose calling it was to love them and care for them and instinctively understand them. She was the heart of their home. Emily was a rare and caring woman who had a buoyant spirit which drew people to her and made her unforgettable. It was common to see guests at her Thanksgiving table who she sensed needed a place to have a warm family celebration. Her grandchildren, Elizabeth (Herb) Jahnke and Michael Cwidak-Kusbach and Emily Cwidak-Kusbach were the beneficiaries of her loving generosities. They brought her such joy, and her home was always their second home. Then Emily was blessed with great-grandchildren, Carlie, Brayden, and Abby who allowed her to once again share even more of her love. Emily Cwidak made happy memories for everyone, and by her example her family learned how to live fully with love, laughter, song, and generous spirits. During the war, Emily worked at Bendix roller skating through the office, and later in life she worked as a ward secretary at St. Joseph Hospital and then did marketing research for many years. She volunteered countless hours at St. Joseph Hospital, was a Daughter of Isabella, and cared for everyone who entered her life, and that was her life's calling. Friends may pay their respects to Emily and her family from 9:00 am to 10:00 am Wednesday, June 19, 2013 at The Chapel in ST. JOSEPH FUNERAL HOME, 824 S. Mayflower Road, South Bend, Indiana. There will be a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 am Wednesday, June 19, 2013 in St. Stanislaus Bishop & Martyr Catholic Church, 415 N. Brookfield Street, South Bend, Indiana. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Boys & Girls Club of South Bend, 502 E. Sample Street, South Bend, Indiana 46601. Condolences for the family may be made at www.sjfh.net.
Published in South Bend Tribune on June 18, 2013