Mary Kuslak

Mary Kuslak

On Friday, April 5, 2024, with family by her side, at the St. Boniface Hospital, Mary Kuslak, aged 93 years, of Winnipeg, MB, passed away.

Born on the family farm in Hnausa, the youngest in the family of 9 children, 6 boys and 3 girls. She loved to talk about her childhood and the fun times she had growing up. Their homestead was unique in that every family on the south side of the road was related, the Pudlos, the Potoskis, the Barteckis and Powzuns. From a young age she was a caregiver, starting with her grandmother, mother, several nieces and nephews, her grandson Randy, and great grandson Haylen, and any friends of her children or Randy’s. She was always introduced to Randy’s friends as “Baba” and that’s how they still refer to her.

After marrying Peter Kuslak, they spent the first 10 years farming and living on the Kuslak farm. They then moved to the north end of Winnipeg as her brother John was already close by.

While raising her family, she also worked outside the home at Atlas Graham Industries, where she utilized her sewing skills daily. Randy remembers Baba bringing home empty yarn or thread spools and then taking them to school to be used in the arts and crafts program. She was ahead of the times by repurposing and recycling items.

Mary also loved to bake and cook. She had her specialties, cabbage rolls, perogies, borscht, and vinnatarta, usually for Easter and Christmas celebrations, Randy’s favorites of lasagna and lime jello cheesecake were also part of her most requested offerings.

In her younger years she gardened, then canned and preserved that years bounty.

She had many interests throughout the years, Mary 5 pin bowled til the age of 80 at Mosienko Lanes with several different teams and did record a high game of 348. She enjoyed completing jigsaw puzzles, solving the daily Free Press jumble, bingo and trips to the casino, some of which were on chartered excursions.

In her later years she loved watching Columbo and Murder She Wrote, and Heaven help you if you phoned her during those time slots. She did however love it when family and friends called to chat or dropped by to visit.

Mary was a strong, hardworking, determined, independent woman, while also being kind, compassionate, empathetic and assisting anyone in need.

She was predeceased by husband Peter; daughter Patricia Morrissette; father Frank; mother Irene; her siblings, and several nieces and nephews.

Left to cherish her memory, son Jim, daughter-in-law Karen; grandson Randy; great grandson Haylen, and many nieces nephews, great nieces and nephews and great great nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the doctors and nursing staff on floor 6, A wing for their compassion and care of Mary in her final days. Also a heartfelt thank you to her neighbors Henry and Lorriane for their friendship and concern for Mary’s wellbeing throughout the years.

Funeral service will be held on Friday, April 12, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. in the Gilbart Funeral Chapel, Selkirk, MB. There will be a luncheon following the service in the attached hall, after which those who wish can join the family for the interment at Lady of Mercy Cemetery – Finns, Bifrost, Riverton (Also known as Jaroslaw Cemetery)

Her pallbearers will be Randy Morrissette, Norman Powzun, Albert Ostapchuk, Neil Powzun, Matthew Ostapchuk and Leonard Johnson. Honorary Pallbearer Haylen Morrissette

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