Czernejewski, Rita E. "Sunny" (nee Pfister) Age 94, of Greenfield, joined her husband, Gil, in eternal life on August 26, 2017, surrounded by members of both her faith and family. Devoted mother to Ronald (Jacqueline) Czernejewski, Janice (Dennis) Chojnacki, Larry (Deborah) Czernejewski, Mary (Jerome) Bochat, and Jay (Jodi) Czernejewski. Proud grandmother of Chad, Stacy (David), Jennifer (Geoff), Devin, Bradley (Christine), Amy Marie (partner Carly), Andrew, Katy (fiance Luke), Sarah, Jonah, Jackson "Jax" and Jensen. Beautiful great grandmother of Dennis Gage, Maxwell, Elizabeth, Cecilia and Clara. Sweet sister and preceded in death by Oliver Warren, Irene Stulo, Joyce Mueller and Paul Pfister. Further survived by other family, friends and wonderful neighbors. Graveside Inurnment Services on Thursday, August 31 at 11 AM, at Forest Hill Memorial Park (3301 E. Forest Hill Ave., Please meet at the chapel). Sunny led a full life with a remarkable history. There was always a story to tell to anyone who would listen. She would have a captive audience recalling her mother's stories of Nicaragua, the snakes, anteaters, pet macaws, mischievous monkeys and lastly, their rubber tree plantation. How a volcano, Momotombito, had erupted spewing lava into Lake Managua, devastating the rubber trees and banana groves. Back in the US, the family purchased a 1000 acre farm in East Point, Louisiana near the Red River Waterway. Rita was born a few years later, named after her mother, on August 8, 1923. Our family's favorite story is of how she got the nickname "Sunshine." Police chief and amateur musician, Jimmie Davis, of Shreveport, was a frequent visitor to their plantation. On one of his visits, Rita ran up to greet him. Jimmie exclaimed, "Oh my!" "Here comes my sunshine." So from 1931 when the song was written to 1939 when it was first recorded, "You Are My Sunshine" is Rita's song. Jimmie Davis' popularity with this hit song escalated his career to signing governor of Louisiana in 1944. Sunny had so many thrilling memories of Louisiana, the water moccasin that got into the wash tub, the black widow spiders on her bed net, her pet fawn and riding horses bareback across the farm. She also fondly recalls the steamboat that ran from Shreveport to New Orleans picking up passengers along the way for dinner and dancing. Sunny's mom left the farm life for Detroit, MI finally settling in Milwaukee, WI. Sunny graduated from high school at 15 years old, and attributes this to her value of education, deeply rooted in her past. East Point did not have a school, so her grandfather donated five acres to build a small brick schoolhouse that has since grown to Riverdale Academy, the only K-12 school. Sunny was swept off her feet at the Eagle's Ballroom by Gilbert, and she married her dreamy dancer three months later in 1941. Gil was deployed shortly after. When Gil returned five years later they raised their family of five in Cudahy, WI. Sunny was a high achiever. Her passion for education did not end with high school. She graduated from Alverno College and went on to teach at St. Joseph Daycare Center. As long time residents of Cudahy, their house was always open to family, friends, and neighborhood round-robins. In 1989, they made plans for a new home in Greenfield. Sunny moved with the same love of home and hospitality and gathered family and friends there as well. Until her death, Sunny was a strong-willed, vivacious woman dedicated to her family and friends. She was an active member of both the Cudahy Women's and Greenfield's Women's Club where she was a coordinator for the WILS Program and an advocate for the scholarship luncheon. One of her greatest passions was gardening. "Old gardeners never die, they just loose their bloomers" was her motto. She was also an avid bird watcher, a talented seamstress, and was creative at crocheting. The family would like to thank the staff of Holistic Home and Hospice for their comforting care. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to St. Jude's Children's Hospital.