Denise Lucille Dvorak

Denise L. Ackerman Yost Dvorak of Parma, Ohio and formerly of Erie, Pennsylvania, passed away on February 18, 2026, after a brief illness. Denise was born in Erie to the late Alan and Mary Lou (Franz) Ackerman on September 18, 1951.

She attended St. Luke, Mount Carmel, and Wilson schools before graduating from Academy High School in 1969, where she excelled in her art classes. She was a homemaker while her daughter was growing up and then began a long career in banking that started in Erie and continued in Cleveland after she re-located there in 2004. She had a love of dogs, German Shepherds being her favorite, from a young age.

She was a member of Rolling Thunder Medina Ohio Chapter 8 and VFW Auxiliary Parma Ohio Lake Erie Post 1974. She also volunteered at Louis Stokes VA Hospital in Cleveland and was a strong supporter of Veterans and Veteran Organizations. She was also an avid gardener, and her flower beds were always full of beautiful flowers.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Joann Markiewicz, her mother-in-law, Shirley Dvorak Fryzel, father-in-law, Richard Dvorak, brother and sister-in-law, Rodney and Victoria Dvorak, and step son-in-law, Chuck Smith. She leaves to cherish her memory: her devoted husband, Tim Dvorak, her daughter, Summer Ann Pattison (Ben Karns), her grandson, Gavin Pattison, and her furbaby, Jack. She is further survived by her sister, Cheryl Ridgeway (Walt), her much younger sister, Teena Steward (John), her stepdaughter, Cheri Smith, sister-in-law, Robin Kossuth (Al), a very special nephew, Eric Markiewicz, nephews and nieces, James Ridgeway, Matthew Ridgeway, Jamie (Michael) Sayre, Scott Bierschwal, and her former son-in-law, Tim Pattison.

Her time with us was not long enough, but we are thankful for the time we shared with her. Even though her story did not end as she had planned, she chose to be grateful for the years, people, and experiences she encountered in her lifetime. Hopefully, she will no longer forget her glasses when she goes shopping and will remember to put the sugar in the pumpkin pie.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Brunswick Ohio VFW Post 9520 or to St. Luke School through Summer. A celebration of life will be held in Erie. Please contact Summer or Teena for details.

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