Ernestine Chippewa Dunaway

Ernestine (Chippewa) Dunaway

January 24, 1947 – December 15, 2024

On December 15, 2024, Ernestine (Chippewa) Donaway, age 77, died at home surrounded by her loving family in Auburndale, FL. 

Ernestine (Chippewa) Dunaway was born on January 24, 1947in Traverse City MI to Ernest Chippewa Sr. And Irene (Miller) Chippewa, both originally from Peshawbestown, MI in Leelanau County. 

Ernestine married Herbert Wabanimkee and they moved to Florida, where she lived most of the rest of her life. She worked, usually two jobs at a time, and had four children. 

She still had time to do a Christmas give-away for hard working locals who still had trouble making ends meet. Ernestine started this work around 1967. She worked all year to buy or refurbish donated toys. She painted, cleaned, and made clothes, and made them look almost like new. Word of mouth got around and donations came from everywhere. As her kids got older, they helped too. 

Everyone knew her as a hardworking, generous, caring and sharing person. 

Since retiring she has been doing her charity work, spending more time with her children, family, and her beautiful grandchildren, and lately her great-grandchildren. 

Ernestine is preceded in death by both parents, Ernest, and Irene (Miller) Chippewa, husbands Herbert Wabanimkee and Robert Dunaway. Ernestine was the eldest of nine children, she is preceded in death by brothers William “Bill” and Ernest Chippewa Jr., and three grandchildren. She is survived by three daughters and one son, Lois Stone, Carl Wabanimkee, Lisa Castro, and Jeanna (Joe) Moreno, many grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.