Obituaries

Debra Lynn Meek (Snodgrass), 70, passed away peacefully on March 5, 2026, at her granddaughter’s home in Anderson, Indiana.

Debra, lovingly known as “Debbie,” was born on July 14, 1955, in Athens, Ohio, to Beulah “Boots” Snodgrass (Locke) and William “Barney” Snodgrass. She spent most of her life in Athens County, Ohio, before recently moving to Anderson, Indiana to live with her granddaughter Brittany.

Debbie dedicated 30 years to Athens City Schools before retiring in 2019, following in the footsteps of her father who also retired from the district. She was known for her strong work ethic, dependability, and pride in a job well done. Debbie also served as treasurer for AFSCME Local 1846.

Debbie had a deep love for life and the simple joys it brought. She especially loved traveling and camping, spending time with friends, listening to music, dancing, and visiting the beach. In more recent years, she enjoyed watching hummingbirds gather at her feeders and cheering on the Cincinnati Bengals during football season. Debbie will be remembered for her laughter, her unique personality, and the joy she found in being surrounded by those she loved.

She is survived by her daughters, Michelle Snodgrass (partner Gary Crihfield) and Lana Wallbrown. She was preceded in death by her beloved daughter, Christina “Sissy” Barnes (longtime partner Jr. Frazee), who passed away in 2014.

Debbie was a proud grandmother to Miranda Bickley (partner Lora Cooper), Brittany Hart (husband Michael Hart), Casey Hamilton (partner Anthony Gardner), Whittany Sargent, Devon Sargent, Chelsea Frazee (partner Cody West), and Bradley Bickley.

She was also a proud and loving great-grandmother to Skyelynn Hart; Xavier and Link Dinan; Kaylen Secoy; Zaiden McCallister; Beau Sedwick; Wesson West; Braxton and Jenson Sargent; and Aubrie Gardner.

Debbie also leaves behind many dear friends who meant so much to her, including Sussan Fiore, Dana McVay, Lydia Kresiak (husband Chet), and Lavern McGowan.

She was preceded in death by her parents, William “Barney” Snodgrass and Beulah “Boots” Snodgrass, her daughter Christina “Sissy” Barnes, and beloved dog Cocoa.

Per Debbie’s wishes, cremation will take place and no public services are planned. A private celebration of life for family and close friends will be held at a later date.

The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to the staff at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and The Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute, including the physicians, surgeons, nurses, and all other staff members, at OSU, for the care and compassion they provided to Debbie over the years.

Debbie’s memory will live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved her, and she will be remembered for her laughter, her unwavering strength, and her love for life.

Lucinda “Cindy” (Ferninger) Arnold, 78, passed away on February 14, 2026, following a brief illness.

Born on May 15, 1947, to Clyde John and Bonnie Jeanne (Wise) Ferninger, Cindy grew up in Middlebury, Indiana. She graduated from Middlebury High School in 1965 and later attended Ball State University in Muncie. Cindy made her home in Muncie, where she worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant for many years, spending the majority of her career at the now-closed Hickory Creek, a residential facility for the developmentally disabled in Gaston, Indiana.

Cindy will be lovingly remembered by her son, Jeff Arnold (Denise); her daughter, Kate Arnold; her grandchildren, Brittany, Zack, and Timothy; and her great-grandchildren, Brantley, Aviana, and Jonah.

Cindy’s sharp wit, sarcastically humorous outlook on life, iconic laugh, and goofy faces made her a joy to be around. She passed along an excessive sense of indecisiveness to her family; pretended to be interested in game night at her son’s house — where she consistently beat the pants off of everyone at Cards Against Humanity; and cherished spending time with her granddaughter and great-grandchildren in North Carolina. She loved vacationing at the beaches of Delaware (yes, Delaware!) and was always happy to be anywhere that wasn’t Muncie.

Cindy could often be talked into taking a spur-of-the-moment road trip in search of great — and sometimes questionable — places to eat, including some of her favorites such as Gene’s Root Beer, the Essenhaus, Ivanhoe’s, the Maid-Rite, Bethany Blues, and Muriale’s.

In true Cindy fashion, her final laugh came in the early hours between Friday the 13th and Valentine’s Day — a memorable exit those who knew and loved her will never forget.

Cindy was known to say, “Take me out back and shoot me,” and “Throw my body in a ditch somewhere,” but against her wishes, a celebration of life will be held at a later date, once the family can make up its collective mind.

In lieu of flowers, Cindy would want you to enjoy a meal at your favorite restaurant — dessert first!”

Patrick Michael Czerwinski (1938–2026)

(Pat) Michael Czerwinski lived a life rich with music, laughter, service, and deep devotion to the people around him. Anyone who knew Pat remembers his quick wit, his generous heart, and the unmistakable joy he found in sharing music, movement, and humor with others. He had a gift for making people smile — whether through a perfectly timed one‑liner, a lively accordion tune, or a playful pun. Even in his final days, he continued spinning funny tales and trading playful barbs with those who visited, proving that his sense of humor was one of his most endearing traits.

Music was the thread that ran through Pat’s entire life. From the time he was a young boy in Milwaukee, he seemed to understand instinctively how music could bring people together. He began accordion lessons early, and by age 9 was already playing at weddings, earning money doing what he loved. Over the years, he mastered anything with keys — accordion, piano, keyboard, organ — and even taught himself guitar in mid‑life. His tastes were wide‑ranging: classical, jazz, bluegrass, Cajun and Creole, polkas, and more. If it had rhythm, Pat could play it, sing it, or dance to it. And dance he did — especially with JoAnn, the girl (and future wife) he met at church youth dances and St. Mary’s Academy musicals. Together, they were a pair who could light up the dance floor.

Pat’s love of movement extended beyond music. Sports were a constant source of joy, competition, and connection. He played softball and tennis well into his senior years, collecting trophies that reflected both his skill and his enthusiasm. With his children, he was a patient teacher and an energetic playmate — tossing softballs in the backyard, showing them how to hit a tennis ball, teaching them to dive, and cheering from the sidelines at track meets, little league games, basketball courts, and volleyball matches. And through it all, he remained a steadfast Green Bay Packers fan, loyal to the end.

He also cherished time outdoors, especially fishing trips to northern Wisconsin. Pat loved the quiet challenge of chasing walleye, northern pike, muskie and bass, and he spent countless hours helping his younger children fish in the lily pads for perch and bluegill. While in Louisiana, he found new fishing grounds on the Sabine River and Cross Lake, sharing those adventures with friends.

Pat’s humor, curiosity, and love of learning shaped the way he raised his seven children. Education mattered deeply to him — not just academic achievement, but the habits and values that support it: reading, hard work, good study skills, and, of course, proper grammar. He believed in the importance of the arts as well, taking his children to theaters, orchestras, and cultural events to broaden their world and spark their imaginations.

Pat’s life was also defined by service. He was deeply committed to helping those facing hardship, quietly and consistently supporting charitable causes throughout his life. His faith was central to who he was, and he was an active member of several parishes over the years — St. Simon in Indianapolis, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Shreveport, and St. Christopher in Indianapolis. He served as a lay minister, song leader, and choir member, finding joy in both the music and the community of daily mass.

As president of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Pat and team spent many Saturday mornings picking up and delivering donations to individuals and families in need. In Shreveport, he volunteered with Meals on Wheels, packing and delivering hot meals to seniors. And wherever he lived, he brought music to nursing homes, playing the accordion and singing to brighten the days of residents. He also occasionally performed with musician friends at local festivals, sharing his talent simply for the joy it brought others.

Pat’s story began in Milwaukee, where he was born on March 17, 1938, to Henry and Helen (Tokarski) Czerwinski. A bright student at Don Bosco High School, he immersed himself in music, singing in the glee club and performing in musicals. He was accepted to Marquette University for engineering but discovered a fascination with psychology, ultimately earning his B.S. in Psychology. While at Marquette, he also participated in ROTC, setting the stage for his early military service.

After college, Pat fulfilled his obligation to serve his country. He joined the Army and moved with JoAnn and their first daughter to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, where he served two years as a 2^nd lieutenant and welcomed the birth of their first son. After a brief return to Milwaukee, the growing family moved to Indianapolis in 1966. There, Pat began a long career in Personnel and Benefits management with Western Electric, later absorbed by AT&T. His blend of psychology, math, and financial expertise made him a trusted leader. When the Indianapolis office closed, he transferred to AT&T in Shreveport, Louisiana, where he continued in management until retiring after nearly 30 years of dedicated service. He later returned to Indianapolis to live near family.

Through every chapter of his life — as a musician, father, friend, volunteer, veteran, and man of faith — Pat brought warmth, humor, generosity, and a deep appreciation for the simple joys that make life meaningful. His legacy lives on in the music he shared, the laughter he inspired, and the family he loved so dearly.

Pat is survived by his sister Barbara Rewolinski, former wife JoAnn Czerwinski, and a large family:

• 7 children (Mary Czerwinski & partner Savas Parastatidis, Dan Czerwinski & wife Char Czerwinski, Linda Cruz, Carol Thomason & husband Trent Thomason, Judi Renner & husband Jeff Renner, Tom Czerwinski & wife Katie Czerwinski, and Eileen Czerwinski)
• 14 grandchildren (Sophie Duba & fiancé Alex Rosenblatt, Nick Duba & wife Kim Duba, Tess Graham & husband David Graham, Keith Czerwinski & wife Hannah Czerwinski, Alan Czerwinski & fiancé Colleen Claire, Marisa Cruz, Nina Thomason & husband Jeff Mayolo, Grayson Thomason, Isabelle Thomason, Danielle Thomason, Carson Renner, Camryn Czerwinski, Payton Czerwinski and Jordyn Czerwinski)
• 5 great‑grandchildren (Judah Graham, Elizabeth Graham, Juni Czerwinski, Vivi Czerwinski, and Noah Czerwinski)

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 11, 2026, 11am ET (with a visitation starting at 10am ET) at St. Christopher Parish, 5301 W. 16th St., Indianapolis, IN 46224.

If you’re so inclined, in lieu of flowers, the family requests you donate to one of Pat’s cherished charities: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

The family extends heartfelt thanks to the many friends, caretakers and loved ones who’ve provided support to Pat throughout his journey.

Lorene Ann (Bergman) Simpson, 81, of Carmel, passed away on February 3, 2026, at home, surrounded by her family. She was born on November 17, 1944, in Kokomo, Indiana, to Harold Applin and Esther (Doenges) Bergman and later adopted by Charles Bergman.

Lorene graduated from Tipton High School in 1962, where she played the bassoon in the band. She attended Methodist Hospital Nursing School and became a Registered Nurse in 1966. While finishing nursing school, she married her husband of over 60 years, Jim on November 27, 1965. She later earned her bachelor’s degree in business from Indiana University Kokomo in 1992. She was a devoted member of Cornerstone Lutheran Church in Carmel and was active in many activities including Friendship Saturday, SonRise Camp and Sewing for Missions (Quilting). Lorene took great joy in gifting her handmade quilts, blankets, placemats, and Christmas decorations.

Lorene had a genuine heart for caring for others and demonstrated that with a nursing career that spanned over 50 years. She served in all aspects of nursing with over 25 years in direct patient care at St. Joseph Hospital in Kokomo before becoming a nurse liaison for over 10 years at several rehabilitation hospitals. Her work reflected her steady, compassionate nature. Outside of her career, she enjoyed gardening, cooking, and baking, and she loved playing cards with friends — especially Euchre and Uno. Her grandchildren carry many fond memories of Uno, Crazy 8, Old Maid and Go Fish. Above all Lorene valued time with her family and took great pride in caring for those she loved. In their retirement, Lorene and Jim enjoyed traveling. They were able to enjoy annual ‘snowbird’ trips to Florida, a cruise of the Panama Canal, trips to Hawaii, Alaska and anywhere else in the US where there was a fantastic quilt show that she could purchase even more material for future quilting projects.

She is survived by her loving husband, Jim; her children, Barry (Connie) Simpson of Westfield and Lara (Troy) Ellis of Russiaville; ten siblings, Stewart Applin of Oakland, California, John Applin of Arundel, Maine, Harry (Anne) Applin of N. Waterboro, Maine, Michael (Melissa) Applin of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Mary Beth (Cheri Alder) Applin of Folsom, Louisiana, Frank (Janet) Applin of Gladstone, Virginia, Edith (Jeff) Cutrer of Livingston, Louisiana, Kip (Anne) Bergman of Tipton, and Jill Bergman of Westfield; and five grandchildren, Julia Simpson (Abigail Barton), Michael Simpson, Elaine Simpson, A.J. Ellis, and Isabella Ellis. Lorene is also survived by a very special cousin, Pam (Phil) Eastman of St. Simon Island, Georgia.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her son, Jimmy; and her brothers, Robert Applin and Peter Applin.

A Celebration of Lorene’s life will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at Cornerstone Lutheran Church in Carmel (4850 E. Main Street, Carmel, IN 46033), with Pastor Scott Giger officiating. Visitors may call on the family at 10:00 AM prior to the service.

A special thanks for the care, love and support that Lorene and the family received from caregivers Kara Mason and Jennifer Galullo, Homewell Care Services, Legacy Hospice, and Keller Mortuary Services.

Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers may be made in Lorene’s memory toward the establishment of an Indiana University Kokomo School of Nursing Scholarship. Donations can be mailed to Indiana University Kokomo; Attn: Tara Scott; 2300 S. Washington St.; Kokomo, IN 46902. Donation cards/envelopes will also be available at the church.

Nancy is survived by three daughters, Kim (Tom) Doyle of Tipton, Kathy Gilbertson of Wisconsin, and Kelly (Burl) Haywood of Tippecanoe; two sisters, Mary Martin of Wilmington, Delaware and Janet Metzger of Circleville, Ohio; five grandchildren, Krista, Tera, Brandon, Jessica, and Morgan; and eleven great-grandchildren, Garrett, Addison, Max, Elijah, Ryder, Josie Mae, Alexander, Justin, Emalee, Able, Conner, and Elijah. She is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews, including Cindy Shoemaker of Warsaw, Jodi Moro of Circleville, Ohio, and Susan (Mike) Hoagland of Warsaw, along with several others.

She was preceded in death by both her parents; her son, John McDonald; grandson, Justin Letsch; brothers, Gene Lemming and Glen Lemming; brothers-in-law, Jerry Martin and Bill Metzler; and son-in-law, Mike Gilbertson.

Nancy will be laid to rest in Palestine Cemetery in Kosciusko County following a private graveside service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Animal Welfare League of Kosciusko County.

Ann Greer Alexander went to join her son, Jake Greer, in his mediocre band on January 17, 2026. The remaining audience members Heather Waymire, Clay Greer, Joshua Greer, and, unbeknownst to him, her longtime boyfriend Willie Nelson invite you to a raucous sendoff at the Anderson Museum of Art to discuss and lie about her life.

Special thanks go to the support staff Nolan Waymire, Shelbie Waymire, Jarod Waymire, Elias Waymire, Keir Waymire, Kaiya Greer, Sara Fulkerson, Hailey Greer, Isaac Greer, and Zaida Greer, who were instrumental in enabling, encouraging, and occasionally surviving her shenanigans.

Ann’s life came in two distinct acts.

Act One was her ne’er-do-well, hippy-dippy phase. As a young woman, she raised four feral children on goat’s milk and yard clippings. She was known to graffiti buildings in Anderson and, once hired by the city, boldly rebranded this habit as “art.” Always on the lookout for newfangled ways to celebrate life, she founded Annie’s Balloons, the first balloon bouquet delivery business in Indiana. Her children sounded like munchkins from then on.

Act Two featured an unexpected ascent up the corporate ladder. Ann entered a world of actuarial tables and foreseeable unforeseeability as an insurance agent with Allstate, earning recognition as a top producer and incentive trips to Paris. In her next adventure, she migrated to the gym, becoming manager of the Nautilus room at the YMCA, where she developed a firm philosophy that hair should be at least as big as your hips.

Throughout her life, Ann proudly wore rose-colored glasses and colored enthusiastically outside the lines. She sought community wherever she landed, whether as an artist with the Anderson Museum of Art, a board member for Black Expo, or a neighborhood storyteller sketching with children. She brought laughter, curiosity, and love to everything she touched.

Please join us as we tell tall tales and forget all her flaws. We will gather at the Anderson Museum of Art on Saturday, January 24, from 3–6 p.m. Around 4 p.m., we invite you to share what you’ve made up or what you remember. Bring your best stories or come create some.

The vibe will be drawn from one of her two acts. Feel free to dress your reflection of her life, either tie-dye or shoulder pads encouraged. You are also welcome to bring a bra to burn on the steps of City Hall on some future, yet-to-be-named date.

Uncle Troy will give $100 to anyone who gets Willie Nelson to participate in any meaningful way, including sending a card, flowers, or showing up in person.

P.S. If you’re thinking of sending flowers, Ann had other ideas. Please consider a donation to the Anderson Museum of Art, or send a photo of something creative you’re working on, especially if it breaks the rules.