Ernest Ghecea

Ernest Ghecea, born Eronim Ghecea on July 17, 1941, in Sighisoara, Romania, passed away on March 4, 2026, in Modesto, California, at the age of 84. One of ten children of Ieronim and Sofia Ghecea, he was known affectionately as Ernie and Nimu. In his late twenties, he courageously escaped the Romanian dictatorship by eluding his communist handlers during an educational trip to Vienna, Austria. He credited his newfound freedom to God, whom he had only recently come to know, and was baptized by Christian missionaries in the Danube River. In 1968, he emigrated to Ontario, Canada, where he met his future wife, Janet. They married in October 1971 and welcomed their only son, Anthony, in August 1972.

Ernest became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1977 and dedicated 48 years to his career as an experimental mechanic in engineering design for General Motors, working across Detroit, Flint, and Warren, Michigan. After retiring in early 2020, he and Janet moved to California, the place he had long dreamed of living since leaving Romania. He spent his final six years there, cherishing time with his family and watching his grandsons grow: Logan advance from high school to graduate school, Brenden approach college graduation, and Preston progress from elementary school through his sophomore year of high school.

He is survived by his loving wife of more than 54 years, Janet Ghecea; his son, Anthony Ghecea; and his three grandsons, Logan Ghecea, Brenden Ghecea, and Preston Ghecea. To all who knew him as Nimu, Poppy, or Chief, Ernest will be deeply missed for his resilience, faith, and devotion to his family.