Wanda K. Chimiak

Wanda Karol Chimiak has gone to her eternal reward on Feb 5, 2019.

Wanda was born on Nov 24, 1926 in Baltimore, MD to the late Karol and Sophia Mieczkowski. At a young age, Wanda loved to sing and play the piano and as a young girl, she sang for wounded veterans and performed for the Baltimore's Polish Heritage group. After graduating from Notre Dame of Md University, Wanda attended the Peabody Institute where she became a protegee of opera singer, Rosa Ponselle, and was offered to join the Metropolitan Opera.

To the shock of many, Wanda pursued a different vocation. On Feb 5th, 1950, Wanda became the wife of the late Walter Chimiak, a WWII Naval Commander, and mother to four sons and four daughters. In addition to raising a family, Wanda volunteered with her Catholic women's sodality which was responsible for establishing one of the first women's shelter in MD. While Walter was the captain of his ship, Wanda was, without a doubt, the captain of the home, even after Walter retired from the Navy. A few years after Walter's retirement, they settled in Wilmington, NC and eventually moved to Fort Mill, SC.

Survivors include children, Rev. Monsignor Karl Chimiak; Pastor, St. Joseph Church, Beltsville, MD, William Chimiak, Ph.D., Chattanooga, TN; James Chimiak, MD and his wife, Michelle, Morganton, NC; Cynthia Wood and her husband, Jim, Fort Mill, SC; Mark Chimiak and his wife, Theresa, Melbourne, FL; Kathy Schmugge and her husband, Paul, Fort Mill, SC; Nancy Frei and her husband, Hansi, Fort Mill, SC; and Susan Mazzullo and her husband, Doug, Stevensonville, MD. Also surviving are her 23 grandchildren and one great-grandson.

Funeral Mass will be Friday, February 8, 2019 at St. Philip Neri Catholic Church, Fort Mill, SC at 11:30 a.m. Interment will at Fort Jackson National Cemetery in Columbia, SC on Feb 11, at 1 pm. The wake and visitation will be Thursday, February 7, 2019 at Palmetto Funeral Home, Fort Mill, SC from 6:00-8:00PM.

Online condolences to: www.palmettofh.com.

To plant a tree in memory of Wanda K. Chimiak, visit the Tribute Store .