AUDREY JERZAK

1930-2024

Audrey Jerzak, 94, of Canby, MN passed away on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024 at the Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, SD. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at noon on Wednesday, Nov. 27 at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Canby. Visitation was held from 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 26 at the Houseman Funeral Home, Birk Chapel in Canby, with a prayer service and Rosary following. Visitation will resume one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be at the St. John Cantius Catholic Cemetery, Wilno, MN. Houseman Funeral Home, Birk Chapel of Canby, MN is entrusted with the arrangements.
Audrey Irene Jerzak was born to Frank and Genevieve (Sik) Tomaszewski on July 14, 1930, in Lincoln County, Minnesota. She attended the Catholic school in Wilno, Minnesota.
On Sept. 18, 1951, Audrey was united in marriage to Andrew (Shorty) Jerzak at St. John Cantius Catholic Church in Wilno. They raised their children and lived in the Taunton, MN, area until 2001 when they moved to Canby. Audrey cleaned house and cooked innumerable meals for a local farmer and his hired men. Baling and harvest seasons were the busiest—lunches and meals four times per day. She enjoyed baking so there were always a wide variety of cookies, bars, and sweet breads on hand.
The Catholic faith and praying the Rosary were important to her. She spent many hours volunteering in various ways at Sts. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church in Taunton until its closure on Oct. 25, 2008. Audrey was happy to have taught many first graders in CCD for 40 years. Singing in the choir with fellow parishioners was also very dear to her. After Sts. Cyril and Methodius closed, Audrey joined St. Peter’s faith community in Canby, where she cherished the priests thar she met and new friendships she formed there. Audrey was a prayer warrior. If she knew you, she was praying for you whether you were aware of it or not. For herself, she prayed that she would receive the sacraments before death, could stay in her home, maintain it and the yard, and keep driving. Her prayAudrey will be remembered by her quick-wit and the friendly-ribbing she enjoyed with family and friends. In her book, things would be much better if laughter was the best medicine and we “love one another.”
Audrey is survived by her children: Wayne (Janet) Jerzak, Canby, and Cynthia (Bruce) Novotny, Minneota; grandchildren: Charles Jerzak, Ann (Cory) Squires, Steven Jerzak, Claren Novotny, and Carley (Dominic) Cassella; great-grandchildren: Carson Squires and Macrina, Basil and Emmelia Cassella; brother-in-law Norbert Jerzak; sister-in-law Gayle Tomaszewski; numerous nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents Frank and Genevieve; husband Andrew; siblings Bernice Benz, Eugene, Lawrence, Donald Tomaszewski; mother- and father-in-law Frank and Mary Jerzak; in-laws Donald Benz, Marilyn Tomaszewski, Helen Tomaszewski, Anton and Irene Winter, Victor and Bernice Jerzak, Raymond and Adeline Brown, Emil and Frances Jerzak, Richard Jerzak, infant Alice Jerzak, Eugene Jerzak, Hank and Arlene Jerzak; Cyril Jerzak; nieces and nephew Geraldine Sterzinger, RoseAnn Eastman, Jason Jerzak.

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