Francis John Wardega

Francis, age 79, passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 8, 2025, in hospice care at Burton Rehabilitation Center, surrounded by loved ones during his final days. He was well cared for by the VA hospital during his later years in life. An altar boy, seminarian, Army Captain who served in Korea, and a proud John Carroll University graduate. He was an advocate for renewal in the Catholic Church through Christ Renews His Parish, a priest in the Charismatic Episcopal Church, and a missionary for Christ in Kenya and Tanzania.

He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, and a man who patiently tolerated the affection of his wife’s and children’s cats and dogs. Francis loved chatting with every grocery store checkout person he ever met and telling tall tales, some of which he called “true stories.” He and his wife of thirty-six years, Patricia (nee, Beaudry), loved camping, living in and visiting Michigan, visiting Georgia, and Florida to spend time with their children and grandchildren there.

Francis was preceded in death by his parents, Francis and Mary (nee ,Nagielski) and his sister Linda. Survivors include brother, Robert (Patricia) Wardega; sisters, Donne (Peter) Schmidt, and Kathy (Edward) Medrick; his beloved wife, Patricia; the children they raised together in Russell Township, Frank (Natalie) Wardega, Jason Wardega, Mary (Jeff) Kolar, Anne (Joseph) Christensen, Elizabeth (Ryan) Palchik, and Sara (Creighton) Kovacs; a blessed crop of grandchildren, Nicholas, Faith, Lauren, Jakob, Thomas Tobias, Thomas, Andrew, Noah, Gavin, Morgan, Kealyn, Emma, Lucas, and Caiden; and great-grandchildren, James, Miles, and Harrison.

A mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, November 14, 2025, at 10:00 AM, at St. Anslem Catholic Church,12969 Chillicothe Road, Chesterland, Ohio, 44026. Private burial will be at Chester Township Cemetery. Calling hours will be held on Thursday, November 13th, from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM, at Gattozzi and Son Funeral Home, 12524 Chillicothe Road, Chesterland, OH 44026.

Memorial contributions may be made to the woundedwarriorproject.org. Share a fond memory or condolence at www.gattozziandson.com.