Christine T. Dirda, 93, Loved Spending Time With Grandchildren
Christine T. Dirda (nee Burcl), 93, of Lorain, died peacefully in her sleep two days before her 94th birthday on Friday November 18, 2016 at St. John Medical Center in Westlake.
She was born November 20, 1922 in Outcrop, Pennsylvania and had been a lifelong Lorain area resident.
Chris graduated from Clearview High School. She worked as a cashier for 15 years at W.T. Grant Department Store in Lorain retiring in 1976. She was a member of the former St. Vitus Catholic Church in Lorain and a current member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Elyria Township.
A wonderful cook, she was known for her apple pie, pierogies and kolach. She still read the daily newspaper and was always eager to go bargain shopping, watch the Indians and Browns, or play bingo and 500 Rummy. She loved gardening and planting roses and her grandchildren were the love of her life. She never lost her shrewdness or quick wit: Once a doctor asked her how she had slept, and she answered, “With my eyes shut.” Her eyes, by the way, were a strikingly beautiful blue.
She is survived by her children: Michael (Marian) Dirda, Sandra (Gary) Dodson, Pamela (Richard) Susanjar and Linda (Kelvin) Gerhart; grandchildren: Richard Susanjar, Nicholas Susanjar (fiancé Lauren McAdams), Justin Susanjar, Brent Susanjar, Nikelle (Darin) Kingery, Gary (Charity) Dodson Jr, Christopher (Lisa) Dirda, Michael Emerson Dirda, Nathaniel Dirda, Heather (Eric) Joyce, Lisa (Scott) Loiselle, Michael (Ellen) Gerhart and Robert Gerhart (fiancé Emily Richardson); great granddaughters: Elle Sienna Kingery, Brynn Arielle Kingery, Emerson Rose Dirda and Julienne Margaret Loiselle; sisters-in-law: Mary Burtze and Olga Wilhelmy and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband of 44 years Michael Dirda in 1991, parents Ferdinand & Anna Burcl (nee Pitnock), brothers: John, Joseph, Daniel, Edward and Frank Burcl and sisters Anna Majzun, Alice Kucirek, Stella Pavlich and Mary Sabo.
The family will receive friends Tuesday November 22nd from 4:00 - 8:00 pm at the Gluvna-Shimo-Hromada Funeral Chapel, 3224 Broadway Ave, Lorain. Funeral services will be held Wednesday November 23rd at 9:30 am in the funeral chapel followed by the mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 am at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 41295 N. Ridge Rd, Elyria Township. The Rev. Donald Dunson, pastor, will officiate. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery in Lorain.
Memorial contributions can be made to St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 41295 N Ridge Rd, Elyria, OH. 44035.
Online condolences can be made at www.gluvna.net.