Theresa CHERPAK

11 OCT 1928 - 10 NOV 2016

• BIRTH: 11 OCT 1928, Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne, PA
• DEATH: 10 NOV 2016, South Bend, IN

INDEX

[N15630] Theresa I. Ellis
Oct. 11, 1928 - Nov. 10, 2016
SOUTH BEND - Theresa I. Ellis of South Bend passed away November 10, 2016, at Hospice of South Bend. For decades, Theresa was a well-known, popular and beloved waitress in South Bend. Born October 11, 1928, in Willkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, to an immigrant coal miner father, Adam Cherpak, and an immigrant former Chicago Meatpacker mother, Mary (Kita) Wojcik, Cherpak, Theresa began her over sixty-year server career at the age of 13. At that early age in addition to running errands for neighbors and helping them with cleaning she waitressed at the Faust Diner on the square in downtown Willkes Barre. The majority of the money she earned she contributed to the support of her parents and 13 siblings. Generally she kept just enough for a Coke, a candy bar, and a comic. In August 1948 she married Mark H. Cohan in Willkes- Barre and in December they moved to South Bend. Shortly thereafter, with persistence, she was hired and worked at the former Hotel LaSalle Coffee Shop. Simultaneously she worked many banquets and parties for various organizations. When the LaSalle closed she waitressed at the former downtown Holiday Inn, later the Americana until their closings. She moved on to the Spaghetti Works in South Bend until it closed and finished her career at the age of 75 while waitressing at Fiddlers Hearth in South Bend. Over the years she was known for her always smiling, friendly, extraordinary service. She was recognized in 1994 with “The Best of Michiana”, Best Waitress Award. She was informally recognized by a round table of attorneys in Dec. 1986 as a “Specially Qualified” waitress, deserving of the highest accolades. On November 30, 1974, she married Daniel L. Ellis, her devoted, loving husband of 42 years. She enjoyed bowling, ping-pong, card games, crossword and word puzzles. But most of all, she enjoyed her work and her family. Her life and love was for family. She doted on her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and 12 siblings. She is survived by her devoted husband, Dan; her lone remaining sibling sister, Margie (Joe) Elias, of Wilkes-Barre, PA; her loving son, Mark D. (Roxanne) Cohan of South Bend; three grandsons: Sean (Gabrielle Thompson) Cohan of South Bend, Mark A. (Erin) Cohan of Plainfield, IL, and Michael D. (Joanna) Cohan of South Bend; and three great-grandchildren, Jonathon Cohan of South Bend, Caitlyn and Kennedy Cohan of Plainfield, IL; and many loving and loved nieces, nephews, and cousins. Visitation will be from 4:00 until 8:00 P.M on Sunday, November 13, in the Kaniewski Funeral Home, 3545 N. Bendix Dr. A funeral service will be held on Monday, November 14, in the Kaniewski Funeral Home at 11:00 A.M. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to The Center for Hospice Care. Online condolences may be left at www.kaniewski.com. Published in South Bend Tribune from Nov. 11 to Nov. 12, 2016