Cured At Last

Last night at 5:45 PM, Ernie succumbed to the ravages of cancer.  He loved life and fought valiantly until the end.  I do not know what I will do without him.  Rest in peace my darling.  You are gone from my sight but forever in my heart. 

Obituary

Ernest James Fackelman, 67, beloved husband of Cynthia Skaar, died peacefully at home on April 2, 2015 after a four year battle with cancer.  Ernie grew up in Elkhart, Indiana.   He had an idyllic childhood, fishing, hunting rabbits, watching the latest Westerns at the Elco Theater and making explosives, zip guns and rockets in the basement with his big brother. 

Ernie attended St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic School where he had a reputation as an exuberant student who enjoyed life to its fullest, regularly securing him “hall time” and more than a few raps on the knuckles by the Sisters.  During these years, he amassed a group of buddies that remain his friends to this day.  Ernie advanced to West Side Middle School, setting the school record for running the hurdles—a record that stood for more than 30 years.  He graduated from Elkhart High School in 1965.  During high school he gave up sports to work so he could buy his first car and the one he always loved the most—his midnight blue 1930 Model A Ford. 

Ernie went on to attend Purdue University, earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics with Distinction and Honors and a Master of Science Degree in Business.    Upon graduation, he was drafted into the U.S. Army.  He distinguished himself in basic training and was selected for Jungle School in Panama and then sent to Viet Nam, joining a reconnaissance platoon in the 25^th infantry division.   While in Viet Nam he was awarded the Bronze Star and the Army Commendation Medal for Valor in Combat.

After Ernie was discharged, he began his business career starting at Hershey Foods and then went on to The Pillsbury Company in Minneapolis where he met his wife, Cyndi.  In 1978, Ernie moved to Winston-Salem to join R. J. Reynolds Tobacco where he was Vice President of Business Information and Analysis.  After 20 years, he took early retirement and began a consulting company with his wife.  He closed his business in 2011 to begin his fight with cancer. 

Ernie loved Winston-Salem and involved himself in the community. He served on the local United Way Board for five years followed by seven years on the Board of the United Way of North Carolina, retiring as Board Chair.   At his death, he was a fundraising committee member and staunch advocate of the Larry Leon Hamlin and Sylvia Sprinkle-Hamlin/Winston-Salem Urban League Endowed Scholarship at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts—a scholarship fund for young artists-of-color--and a member of St. Leo the Great Catholic Church.  He was also an enthusiastic golfer, historian, collector and traveler and loved spending time at his Blue Ridge Mountain cabin. 

Ernie is survived by his wife of 32 years, Cyndi, and his brother, Thomas Fackelman (Kathy) of West Lafayette, Indiana.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Evelyn Fackelman. 

The family will receive friends on April 10 from 5 to 7 PM at Salem Funeral Home at 2599 Reynolda Road.  A memorial service will be held on April 11, at 1 o’clock PM at St Leo the Great Catholic Church in Winston Salem and the weekend of July 10 in Elkhart, Indiana. 

The family wishes to thank the staffs of Johns Hopkins Scleroderma and Kimel Cancer Centers, Dr. Rich Daniel at University Dental and the staff of the Hospice & Palliative Care Center for the extraordinary care they gave to Ernie and also Father Brian Cook and the many relatives, friends and neighbors who helped support him during this difficult time. 
 

The hardest blog of all

This is the blog that I hoped I would never have to write.  Ernie’s symptoms have been progressing rapidly despite the chemotherapy.  Because of this, the oncologist ordered another scan.  Unfortunately, the scan showed that the tumors in his throat and lymph nodes are all growing. 

Effective Sunday, we withdrew from chemotherapy and entered hospice care.  Right now, Ernie is at the Kate B Reynolds Hospice Home where they are working on pain and symptom management.   In two or three days, when these things are under control, we will return home for the duration.  We are hoping for some good days when Ernie could receive visitors but we will have to play that by ear. 

My apologies to all of you who have written, called, emailed and texted.  Ernie’s symptoms have progressed so rapidly that we have struggled to keep up.  We are so grateful your concern and attention.  It helps us tremendously to know that we are not in this alone. 

Here Comes The Bride

Ms. Cynthia J. Skaar Weds Mr.  Ernest J. Fackelman (again) in Catholic Ceremony

 Ms. Cynthia J. Skaar and Mr. Ernest J. Fackelman were united in marriage in a Catholic ceremony on Saturday, March 21, 2015 at half past five o'clock in the afternoon at the Cancer Center, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, room 637 in Winston-Salem, NC. The private ceremony was officiated by Father Brian Cook of St. Leo the Great Catholic Church.

The bride wore a chartreuse V-neck sweater with matching pashmina shawl and black slacks, adorned with a silk flower wrist corsage (no real flowers allowed in the oncology floor of the cancer center).   The groom wore his best flannel pajamas and white cotton robe.  His boutonniere matched the bride’s wrist corsage.  

Following the ceremony, the couple departed for home where they plan to spend the rest of their lives together.   It was the most joyful of days and made them both feel young again.