Ferdinand Anthony Richard Mayernik was born May 30, 1928 in Elmhurst, Queens, New York, and passed on April 25, 2021 in Cornelius, NC. Born to Jan (Americanized to John) Mayernik and Maria Valachovic Mayernik, he was the youngest of seven brothers (Frank, John, Vincent, Joseph, Alphonse and Charles) in a devout Catholic family, though he was robbed of the opportunity to actually meet his father. He married the love of his life, Jeanne Marie Skelton, on July 3, 1954, after returning from service overseas with the U.S. Army. Together they welcomed twelve children over a period of fourteen years, and Ferd worked countless jobs to support his large family, including as a teacher, a delivery driver for Coca-Cola, groundskeeper for the Parks and Recreation Department in Nassau County, New York, phone book deliveryman, and a pall-bearer and overnight phone operator for Gutterman’s Funeral Home.
Ferd was a man who enjoyed spending time sledding or playing catch with his children despite the many hours he worked to support them. He was a die-hard NY Yankees fan and a brilliant canasta player, except against his wife. Canasta was a family tradition, and Ferd never failed to recall an arcane rule when it would benefit him in the game. He loved to laugh at things big and small, but especially at his own jokes! He was a principled and ethical man, standing up for what was right no matter what it cost him personally or professionally. He taught us all that God is real, and that we are put on this Earth only in preparation for the real life to come, which he welcomed.
He is survived by his children and their spouses, Richard (Barbara Ann), Lucille, Joan, Barbara Diane (Craig), Frances (William) James, Michael (Laura), Andrew (Carol), Mary (Mark), Victoria, and Thomas (Sherrie). He is also survived by his 22 grandchildren, Christine (Louis), Donna (Stephen), Christin (Gregory), Jennifer (Kenneth), Kenneth (Michelle), Kevin (Lucy), Brian (Devon), Charles, Anthony, Matthew (Brenda), Steven (Nancy), Samantha, Michael, William, Robert, Katherine, Alyson, Emily, Christian, Kyle, Scott, and Isaac. He is also survived by 16 great-grandchildren, Gianna and Reynaldo, Sean and Alexandra, Jacob, Julia, Jonah, and Joan, Oliver, Ryan, Emma, Fiona and Kenneth, Kittredge, Tucker and Olivia, and more on the way!
He is preceded in death by his parents, his six older brothers, daughter Theresa, son-in-law Gregory (Lucille), daughter-in-law Sherrie (James), grandson Nicholas, and his beautiful wife, Jeanne.
Visitation will take place at McEwen Funeral Service, 5716 Monroe Road, Charlotte on Monday, May 3, 2021 from 6-9pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Saint Mark Catholic Church, 14740 Stumptown Road, Huntersville on Tuesday, May 4, 2021 beginning at 11am. Interment will follow at Sharon Memorial Park.
We are all grateful that his suffering is over, and that he can finally meet his earthly father and enjoy the family that preceded him in death. His “impeccable” story-telling skills, infectious laughter, unshakeable faith in God, ability to love deeply, and raised voice once he’d finally had enough will be affectionately remembered forever by all of those who loved him, and we are all blessed for having had him as an influence in our lives.
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