Ernestine (Chayie) Kaniewski Rypniewski

March 17, 1911 – Feb. 13, 2004

Ernestine Kaniewski Rypniewski, 92, of South Bend, Ind., passed away at 7:45 p.m. Friday, Feb.13, in the Holy Cross Care and Rehabilitation Center. Ernestine was born on March 17, 1911, in Laurium, Mich., to Ebal J.and Angeline (Courtois) Chayie.

On Oct. 13, 1934, in St. Casimir Catholic Church, as Ernestine Chayie, she married Bernard V. Kaniewski, who preceded her in death on Jan.7, 1973. On April 15, 1977, in St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, as Ernestine Kaniewski, she married William J. Rypniewski, who preceded her in death on Jan. 25, 1990. Also preceding her in death were her two sisters, Loretta Murrmann and Julliette Maggart; her brother, Oliver Chayie; and her great-granddaughter, Kara Kaniewski.

She is survived by her two sons, Kenneth V. Kaniewski and Robert B. (Patricia) Kaniewski, both of South Bend, Ind.; her stepdaughter, Sister Virginette (Julie) Rypniewski, CSFN, of Rome, Italy; her nine grandchildren, Kim Marie (Tom) D’Ambrosio of Long Island, N.Y., Michael R.(Jill) Kaniewski of South Bend, Francine M. (John) Pajakowski of South Bend, Gregory A. (Julie) Kaniewski of South Bend, Debra L. (Jeff) Cohoat of Fishers, Ind., Thomas R. “TK” Kaniewski of South Bend, Angela M. (Dave) Gustafson of South Bend, Jeffery R. (Jennifer) Kaniewski of New Carlisle, Ind., and Sarah J. Drabecki (fiancé, Doug Rippe) of Fort Wayne, Ind.; her 10 great-grandchildren, Timmy, Alex, Mitch, Paige, Tate, Makenna, Braden, Tommy, Danny and Hannah; her sister, Philonese Miles of Mishawaka, Ind.; and by her sisters-in-law, Dottie Chayie of California and Hildegarde (Bernard) Pinkowski of South Bend.

Ernestine graduated in 1932 from the St.Joseph Hospital School of Nursing. She then worked as a registered nurse at Saint Joseph Hospital in South Bend, and was also a private-duty nurse for the Studebaker family. In 1953 Ernestine became co-owner of the V.K.Kaniewski and Son Funeral Home with her husband Bernard. She remained active in the funeral business for 42 years, serving as its president from 1973 until 1977.

Ernestine was a member of St. Stanislaus Parish, Confraternity of the Holy Rosary, and the Bethany Ladies. She was also a former Eucharist Minister and a former member of the St. Stanislaus Finance Committee.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m.Tuesday, Feb. 17, in St. Stanislaus Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery. Friends may call from 2 to 8 p.m.on Monday in the Kaniewski Funeral Home, 3545 N. Bendix Drive, where a parish vigil will be held at 4 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to St.Stanislaus Catholic Church, 415 N.Brookfield St., South Bend, IN 46628.

The family would like to thank the Holy Cross Care and Rehabilitation Center and Hospice for the exceptional comfort and care they provided for Ernestine. The Kaniewski Funeral Home, 3545 N.Bendix Drive, South Bend, IN 46628, handled arrangements.

Article from 15 Feb 2004 The South Bend Tribune (South Bend, IN)

Sources: Ancestry.com, Newspapers.com and FindAGrave.com

03/24/2026 EJS

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8390063/ernestie-kaniewski_rypniewski