Obituary of Elaine Schwarz

Elaine Trabinger Schwarz gracefully left her extended family here on Earth to enter the Kingdom of Heaven on May 21, 2015 at the home of her daughter. She was the only child of Ann Teubert Trabinger and Paul Trabinger, born on September 3, 1923. Elaine walked to Sacred Heart School from her neighborhood on 31st and Plum Street and graduated from Villa Maria Academy in 1941 with her lifelong friend Eileen Downing Spence. They also worked together as bookkeepers at Lake Shore Lumber Company and Burke Electric Company. As a young woman Elaine was a Girl Scout Troop leader at the former St. Joseph's Orphanage and sang in the Erie Maennerchor Choir. She left the work world after marrying the love of her life, Charles Edward Schwarz in 1948 and created a neighborhood family on Meadow Drive in Millcreek. Elaine and Charlie were founding members of Our Lady of Peace parish with their first Mass at McDowell High School. You could find Elaine in the OLP school cafeteria for many years as she organized kitchen volunteers and baked cookies. Her cookie jar was always filled. Elaine's spirit was heartbroken when she lost her husband of 31 years in 1979. They enjoyed many years with friends at the East Erie Turners, Penelec activities, the Zukor Club, a hunting camp, or bowling. She returned to working part time as a sales associate at Margel's Bridal Salon and sewing with her dear friend, Phyllis Kennedy. Her spirit was lifted again while singing with the Lake Erie Concert Choir for 18 years, and she was a faithful swimmer at the McDowell Intermediate pool. She could never figure out why so few in the class would want to go out for ice cream after class, her nightly routine! Elaine is survived by her three daughters, Mary Romere (Joseph) of Kingwood, Texas, Ann Schwarz of Saratoga Springs, New York and Jean Cordier of Fairview, PA. She was pleased to share in the lives of her grandchildren John Wright Cordier and Katherine Anne Cordier of Fairview, PA , and step grandchildren Eric Wynn Romere of Gilmer, Texas and Brie Romere Rangel (Daniel) of Humble, Texas. Elaine is further survived by her cousin Judy Miller Moore and son Michael Moore of Meadville, brother-in-law Robert Schwarz (Patricia) of Houston, Texas and sister-in-law Barbara Schwarz of Punta Gorda, Florida. Numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews share in the celebration of her passing. With special thanks to her loving caregivers, Stephanie Douglas and Marilyn Cairns, from Home Instead, and she always had a hand to hold. She is preceded in death by her husband, Charles Edward Schwarz, step mother Ethel Schaaf Trabinger, step-sister Eileen Schaaf, cousins Richard Trabinger and Charles Leingang, brother in-law Edward Schwarz and sister-in-laws Frances Redfoot, Emma Zedo, Catherine Shampoe, Helen Hermansen, Ann Patrick. Friends are asked to join the family at a funeral Mass at Our Lady of Peace Church at 10 am on West 38th Street, Wednesday, May 27th followed by interment at Laurel Hill Cemetery on Sterrettania Road. Arrangements are being handled by the Dusckas-Martin Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 4216 Sterrettania Rd. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to Parkinson's Partners of NWPA, PO Box 10547, Erie, PA 16514-0547 or OLP School, 2401 West 38th Street, Erie, PA 16506.