Ellen M. Czerneski, 92, a resident at the Villa Vista in Hurley and formerly of Ironwood, Mich., died Thursday, March 12, 2009, in Ironwood. The former Ellen Swanson was born Feb. 3, 1917, in Bessemer Township, Mich., daughter of the late Carl and Alice (Goodwin) Swanson, and attended Puritan School there. She waitressed at Petrusha's Supper Club in Hurley and the Iron Inn and Don & GG's in Ironwood for many years, and also cooked at the St. James Hotel in downtown Ironwood. Ellen was a member of Salem Lutheran Church in Ironwood. She loved reading and going to the casino. She especially loved her friends at the Villa Vista. She married Stanley Czerneski on Sept. 6, 1947. He preceded her in death on Nov. 11, 1977. Surviving are three sons, Robert (Virginia) Sertich, Racine and Hurley; Michael (Mary Kay) Czerneski, Ironwood; and David (Patti) Czerneski, Bessemer Township; 16 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; a brother, Willis Swanson, Detroit; numerous nieces and nephews; a son-in-law, Gary Kusz, Ironwood; and a sister-in-law, Gwen Swanson, Shawano. Besides her husband, Ellen was preceded in death by two daughters, Kathleen Kusz, Sept. 24, 2002, and Joan Chagnon in 2008; two grandsons, Adam and Michael John Czerneski; a great grandson, Gary Sertich; brothers, Walter, Clarence "Kelly" and Charles Swanson; and her sister, Florence Oja. In accordance with Ellen's wishes, cremation has taken place. A Memorial Service will be held Monday, May 18, at 11 a.m., at the McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home, 305 N. Lowell St., in Ironwood, with the Rev. Christian Muellerleile officiating. Committal will take place at the funeral home, with luncheon to follow at Tacconelli's in downtown Ironwood. Inurnment will be in Riverside Cemetery, Ironwood. Relatives and friends may call at the funeral home from 10 to 11 a.m. on Monday. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Regional Hospice, N-10561 Grandview Lane, Ironwood, MI 49938, or to the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry, 108 S. Marquette St., Ironwood, MI 49938. To view Ellen's obituary online, sign the guestbook and express condolences, visit mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ironwood.