Obituary of Barbara E. Chernak

Barbara Elizabeth Chernak, daughter of Elizabeth and John Chernak, passed away on June 4^th 2018, she was 82 years old.  Bobbie, as she was known, was a little person – but her parents raised her as a normal individual.  As the TV show “Little People, Big World” said, a little person could do all the things regular people did, but in their own way – and she did that.

Bobbie graduated from Nichols School in Nichols, CT in 1949 and Warren Harding High School in Bridgeport, CT in the class of 1953.  She then graduated from Bryant University with a BS in accounting and finance.  She had several positions in various companies until she retired from Remington Arms Company (Dupont) when the operations moved out of Bridgeport. 

Because of the many companies she worked for and her church she met and kept many lifelong friends.  She felt very blessed.  She is survived by her sister and brother-in-law in Portland OR – Ann and Fred Morris, a sister-in-law Arlene Chernak in Ohio, her only cousin in the states, Raymond Koch of Huntington Beach, CA, as well as six nieces from all over the states and many grand nieces and nephews.  Her brother, John A. Chernak, is deceased. 

While Bobbie was able she was very active.  She volunteered in many ways.  For example, at the Red Cross she was the blood donor chairman, first being a caller herself and then chairman of the callers.  She also volunteered at the Trumbull Senior Center for many years as a tax assistant, which she loved for it was helping the seniors with their taxes.  She was active in the church she loved as a treasurer and community member. 

She loved to travel.  Her folks were born in Austria, Hungary – which became Czechoslovakia - and she traveled there.  She also traveled to Switzerland and other European countries, to Australia, to New Zealand, and to Tahiti – as well as all around the states.

Her friends blessed her with sharing their children with her.  She would take them somewhere every week.  They would go to state parks, walks in the woods to make a fire and cook hot dogs and marshmallows, or to collect newspapers for the church to be sold (no recycling in those days).  Later on, when money was more plentiful, in November of each year she would take them on overnight trips.  Kids stayed free in the Howard Johnsons or Holiday Inn.  She felt traveling with children was an education for them and also fun for her.  Those children are adults now and have grown children of their own.  Each year they either see her or send Christmas cards and remember those days.  She surely felt blessed and thanks all those friends that allowed their kids to come with her. 

She loved her church - Nichols United Methodist Church - and truly appreciated all their support.  Her memorial service will be at her church at 11:00 AM on July 28^th.  Bobbie requested that in lieu of flowers, people could please make donations to the Nichols United Methodist Church Endowment Fund.