Angela Dorothy (Giorgio) Ernst

Angela Dorothy (Giorgio) Ernst, 89, of Powell, Ohio, passed away on November 15th, 2022. Angela was born on October 20th, 1933, to Anthony & Mary (Mekoola) Giorgio in Chicago, Illinois. Angela then relocated to Cicero and eventually Downers Grove, Illinois. Angela’s childhood was often spent alongside her two sisters, Judy and Mary, and her brother, Tony. Angela’s strong childhood familial connection carried throughout the course of her life. Later in life, though many miles separated her from her sisters, the deep bond between the three never ceased. The phone calls from the two sisters to their best friend and sounding board, otherwise known as “Big Sisser” or “Angelina Sissilina”, were frequent, sometimes multiple times a day. Angela met and immediately fell in love with Henry (Hank) Ernst. Their first date was dancing at the Aragon Ballroom and they were married on October 10th, 1953. Hank and Angela had their first son Kirk in Chicago, Illinois, their second son, Keith, in Winston Salem, North Carolina, and their daughter, Karen, in Columbus, Ohio. Wherever Henry’s job took them, they never let their love stay far behind. They displayed a constant and never-ceasing love and devotion to one another until finally being angelically reunited. As a result of the unfortunate early passing of Hank, Keith, and Kirk, the mother daughter bond between Angela and Karen became even stronger. What started as a loving relationship grew into a lifelong support system. Until Angela’s final day, Karen was always by her side holding her hand and being the strong person that Angela had taught her to be. People often say that Angela never met a stranger that didn’t become a friend and always viewed the world through rose-colored glasses. An example of this character can be seen in the relationships that Hank and Angela established early in their marriage, which developed into a life-long fraternity of friendships. This is evidenced by the steadfast empathetic care and attention that their dear friend, John Sosnowski displayed until Angela’s final days. Angela displayed a strong affinity for education, notably skipping a grade and actually teaching those younger than her while still a student herself. She carried this love of education into her shining achievement: the development and founding of the St. Timothy School library. There she worked as the school’s first librarian until transitioning to the Wendy’s Corporate Office in their research and development department. She often regarded her Wendy’s role as her most “fun” job. Angela often found herself sought after by other companies before spending the remainder of her career as an Administrative Assistant for OCLC. It was with OCLC that Angela built a lot of her life-long friendships. Angela also built strong friendships with the members of her numerous clubs, communities, and churches that she was involved with. She refused to schedule any appointments on her Tuesday Lunch Bunch & Card Club. Through the years Angela enjoyed numerous activities and hobbies, such as: playing tennis, traveling, church retreats, attending musicals at the Ohio Theater, and enjoying the symphony, all of which were shared with her long list of treasured friends. Throughout her life, Angela was steadfast in her faith. She was a member of St. Timothy’s Church (Columbus), St. Mary’s Church (Delaware), where she was a Eucharistic Minister, and St. Joan of Arc (Powell). It was as a result of her resolute faith and her uniquely empathetic soul, that she generously donated to a wide array of charitable causes and missions. Angela was rarely alone in her house, even after the unfortunate passing of her husband, Hank. Someone would knock on her door, and (of course) be invited in for coffee and desert, every single day. Her house was also the global HQ for all holiday get-togethers, birthdays, and Super Bowl parties. In a time of need, she quickly welcomed in her son, Keith. She again opened her house to two of her grandsons after they graduated. Perhaps the biggest display of Angela’s stout optimism and empathy is when she opened her doors, set a dinner plate, and shared Thanksgiving Dinner with a stranded motorist. Angela’s Christian spirit allowed her to build meaningful, long-lasting and truly valued friendships. These friendships were always a special part of Angela’s life. The family would like to acknowledge and thank the many people who shared a part of her beautiful heart. Angela was predeceased by her husband Henry Joseph Ernst, her sons Keith David and Kirk Steven Ernst, her brother Anthony (Tony) Giorgio Jr, and her nephew Jeffrey Wolak. She is survived by her daughter and Son-in-Law, Karen and Mark Rettig, her sister Judy Kurtis, her sister and Brother-in-Law Mary and Clyde Stary, her grandchildren Jacob (Christine) Rettig, Jackson (Kristen) Rettig, Jarret (Katie) Rettig, Elizabeth Ernst, Skylar Bulford, her great granddaughter Maia Rettig, her nieces & nephews, Mark Giorgio, Angel Giorgio, Lisa Wolak, Michael Stary, and April Gannon, and the thousands of lives that she touched throughout her 89 years. Family will be receiving friends at Rutherford Funeral Home at Powell on Sunday, November 20th from 2:00-6:00pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be Celebrated on Monday, November 21st at 10:30am at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church. Friends are welcome to join in friendship and fellowship at St Joan of Arc after her burial at Resurrection Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, Angela’s family asks that you send donations to: Consolata Missionaries or Disabled American Veterans. .

Angela Dorothy (Giorgio) Ernst

October 20, 1933 - November 15, 2022