Kernie Alex Sawatis

Kernie Alex Sawatis 10/31/1942 – 1/26/2022 Born on Wolfe Island,

St. Regis Mohawk Indian Reservation, Wolf Clan of Akwesasne. On January 26th, 2022, just as he was beginning his 80

th

year of his earth walk, Kernie won his 7 year-long battle with life-threatening health issues by choosing Heaven, and Saint Tekakwitha journeyed with him home. Kernie was a tall handsome Mohawk Native American Indian who made his way to Pittsburgh, Pa. at the age of 18 to carve out a life for himself. He was a self-made man of many trade skills and was never without two jobs. Kernie did everything right in life and he accepted every responsibility. Kernie loved his northern homelands. He loved winter that brought frozen ice for ice skating and he lived to play hockey. Kernie would have played professional hockey for the Pittsburgh Hornets if family life would not have intervened, cutting his dreams short. He loved animals, the river, fishing, and a pontoon boat on the lake. Kernie was a marksman and a lifetime member of the Ambridge District Sportsmen’s Association. He loved competition shooting and took home many wins. He had a great appreciation and respect for all of life. For the past 14 years, he was a vital part of Indian Summers Border Collie Rescue and he never turned away from helping a needy paw. Kernie was welcomed home by his Border Collie Nana, his wild Irish cat Bunny, and childhood island dog Spotty. Kernie is deeply

mourned by his pawed girls he leaves behind, Chloe and Katie, and the hundreds of Rescued Dogs of whose lives he touched.  And by his wife, Victoria of whose life he saved.

To my husband, Kernie…

Your Love is my Keepsake,

of which I’ll never part.

God holds You in His Hands,

I hold You in my Heart.

I will miss you

till we meet again,

And then,

I will miss You

no more.

Till then, Always and Forever,

Your Victoria, Wife and Friend.

Preceded in death by his former wife, Patricia Goss Sawatis of Freedom, Pa.,  father Alex Maurice Sawatis, mother Annie Jacobs Sawatis, Paternal Grandparents, Andrew and Toda, Josephine Sawatis, brothers, sisters, extended family members all of St. Regis Indian Reservation Akwesasne Quebec, Ontario, NY.  Survived by his beloved wife, Dr. Victoria Summers of Minerva, Ohio. Daughter Barbara and Son Kernie II of Pittsburgh, Pa., Sister Teresa Sacco and family of Camillus, New York and Nephew, John Hart of Hogansburg, NY., Akwesasne.