Mildred Jean Czerwinski

Mildred ‘Jean’ Czerwinski, the second daughter of Howard McCall and Helen Paul McCall, was born on May 21st, 1926 in Washington, Iowa and died December 22, 2018 in Long Beach, California, surrounded by her children in her home of 65 years.

Mildred Jean was named after her Aunty Midge, who after just completing her nurse schooling, helped to deliver M Jean. She was her first delivery! However, later, as a teen, Mildred decided that she did not want to be called Mildred and certainly not ‘Millie’, who was an evil character on the radio, and would only answer to Jean from then on.

Jean lived on the family farm along with her sister, Virginia (1923) little brother Richard (1929). Being without electricity or indoor plumbing, Jean and her sister had many fun chores, such as filling the kerosene lamps, trimming the wicks and gathering corn cobs to start fires in the big black kitchen stove. And then there were the not-so-fun chores of hauling wood and coal, emptying chamber pots and plucking the chickens!

After graduating from West Chester High School, she convinced her father to let her go away to school. Her adventurous spirit took her off to Chillicothe Business College in Missouri, where she could experience the ‘dorm’ life.

After college, Jean soon moved to Omaha, Nebraska to work. That is where she met many of her life-long friends and also, the love of her life, Vincent.

Jean and Vince moved to Long Beach, California, where they married and had six children, all raised in Catholic schools.

While raising their children, Jean took in typing work at home, mostly from college students. She eventually worked for Long Beach Unified School District where she was employed for many years. She loved her work and also the social aspect it afforded her.

Jean was a busy mom, often piling the kids into the family station wagon and driving them to swim lessons, scout meetings, beach outings and school events. She even took all six kids, ages 2-12 years, on the Amtrak train to Iowa by herself to visit the family farm.

After her retirement, with children raised, Jean was able to rediscover her adventurous soul and do a bit of traveling. She especially liked traveling to England and Ireland with her sister Virginia, as well as stateside road trips with her good friend, Sandy.

When her youngest daughter Susan became ill, Jean was the most supportive and loving mother and friend. She became a second ‘Mom’ to many of Susan’s friends.

Jean’s family and friends were extremely important to her. She lit up when they came through the door to visit and spend time. She always had an ear to them and enjoyed telling her life stories…like the one about being interviewed by Johnny Carson in Omaha, or about living in Mrs. Upchurch’s boarding house where she shared the attic apartment with her college friend, Susan, or her first kiss from Vince. She had many, many lively stories!

Jean enjoyed her succulent garden, jigsaw puzzles, Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune. Vanilla ice cream was her favorite. She also helped at Food Finders delivering goods to needy organizations and was proud to have her 16 gallon pin from the Red Cross.

Her husband Vince passed away in 1991, her daughter Susan in 2010 and her sister Virginia in 2014.

Those left to share her memories are children Paul Czerwinski, Janet Bonar, Diane Ellis-Caruana (Michael), Carol Quinowski (Brent), John Czerwinski (Susan); six grandchildren, Bryan (Colleen), Nathan (Cathi), Matt (Steph), Duncan, Fiona, Grace and Maddie; great-grandchildren Annie, Ollie, Anderson, Edwin and Riley; brother Richard McCall (Mary) of Washington, Iowa.

Luyben Dilday Mortuary (562) 425-6401