ETHEL BRNICKY, age 95 of Fishers; formerly of Merrillville, passed away Monday, June 16, 2015 at the home of her daughter in Fishers, IN. She was born Etela Salkova in Brehy, Slovakia in 1919 to Terezia (nee Laco) Salka and Martin Salka. Her father came to Gary, IN with other men from Brehy to find work and set up housing for their families to eventually join them. Etela finished secondary school in 1937 and wrote to her father stating that she would like to come to Gary to help him; he immediately sent her a ticket for passage. She came to the U.S. aboard a ship on her own, met her father in Gary, and helped him get their home ready for the arrival of her mother and brother William nine months later. Her sister Rosalia Salkova and her family remained in Brehy. Etela, whose named was changed to Ethel Salka, worked as a domestic and taught herself English by going to the movies. Later, she was a waitress and also worked in a munitions plant in Kingsfield Heights, IN packing anti-aircraft shells for two years during World War II. She spent 15 years working the assembly line at Anderson Company (ANCO). Ethel married Ladislaus Brnicky in in 1948; he preceded her in 1986. They had a son, Lawrence (Alice) Brnicky and a daughter, Theresa Brnicky; grandson Matthew Brnicky. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Lillian Salka; nephews Steven Salka; Edward (Jennifer) Salka; great-niece Mina Salka; great-nephews: Bradley and Andrew Salka; and her sister’s children in Slovakia: Anna (Anton Stasov) Lizakova, Etela Sieklienkova, Jan (Katarina) Michalec, Maria (Imro) Kanala and their families; and by her great-niece Katarina Michalcova who assisted with Ethel’s care for a time in 2014. She is preceded in death by her husband Ladislaus “Lottie,” her parents; brother William; sister Rosalia. Ethel was a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Gary, S.S. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Merrillville, and St. Louis De Montfort Catholic Church in Fishers after moving there with her daughter in 2001. She enjoyed cooking, baking, playing pinochle, and had crocheted many afghans that her family members enjoy using. Family and friend may visit with the family on Saturday, June 20, 2015 from 9:30-10:30 A.M. at S.S. Peter & Paul Catholic Church (5885 Harrison St., Merrillville). Funeral services will be held Saturday at 10:30 A.M. from S.S. Peter & Paul Catholic Church with Rev. Roy Beeching officiating. At rest Calumet Park Cemetery.