Submitted by: Dan Rich

Agnes J. Bernaciak

Jan. 9, 1908 - May 23, 1997

South Bend Tribune 5/25/1997

NEW CARLISLE - Agnes J. (Smuda) Bernaciak, 89, beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, died on Friday, May 23, in the Hamilton Grove Retirement Community, New Carlisle, Ind. Mrs. Bernaciak was born on Jan. 9, 1908, in Manistee, Mich., and moved to South Bend in 1976, where she lived on Grant Street until moving to Hamilton Grove a few years ago.

As Agnes J. Zyski, she married Edward J. Smuda in September 1947, in Manistee. He preceded her in death on July 19, 1964. She then married Harry Bernaciak on Sept. 9, 1966, in Manistee. He preceded her in death on Oct. 22, 1975. She was also preceded in death by two sisters, Theresa Cichowicz and Helen Goznovich, and by a brother, Harold Zyski. She is survived by a son, James J. Smuda of South Bend; seven grandchildren, Janet Kraus, Doris Smuda, Carol Smuda, John Smuda and Donna Frederickson, all of South Bend, Mary Sexton of Mishawaka and Carl Smuda of Fallen, Nev.; six great-grandchildren, Nathaniel Krause, Adam Sharbek, Vincent Frederickson and Veronica Smuda, all of South Bend, and Charlotte and Jacob Smuda of Norfolk, Va.; two step-great-grandchildren, Jacob and Alex Sexton of Mishawaka; a sister-in-law, Henrietta Zyski of South Bend; a nephew, Ronald Cichowicz of South Bend; and by two nieces, Dolores Gorsuch of Charlotte, N.C., and Eleanor DeLater of South Bend. Mrs. Bernaciak was a member of St. Adalbert Catholic Church, the Rosary Society and the Harvest House of the church.

A funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, May 28, in St. Adalbert Catholic Church. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery. Friends may call from 2 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 27, in the Kaniewski Funeral Home, 3545 N. Bendix Drive, South Bend, where a parish Rosary will be held at 4 p.m. Memorials may be made to the St. Adalbert Church building fund.