Borisine (Bernie) Kusey
Borisine (Bernie) Kusey Obituary
Life Lived: Borisine Nell Kusey
Borisine Nell Kusey (August 26, 1920 - July 2, 2021)
Borisine (Bernie) Kusey was born August 26, 1920, in Vonda, Saskatchewan, to Stephanie and Nicholas Michasiw.
She grew up in Mikado, Saskatchewan, the second of five siblings.
She attended Nutana Collegiate in Saskatoon before working at the Weyburn Mental Hospital as a Nurse’s Aide, until she was old enough to attend University. She attended the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics.
Bernie married Dr. Emil John Kusey in August 1942. The Second World War took Emil to Jamaica, where he was stationed as a medical doctor with the Canadian Army. Bernie visited him during this time, travelling by Army planes, from Winnipeg to Chicago, to Miami, to Havana, Cuba, and finally to Kingston, Jamaica.
Bernie and Emil settled in Canora Saskatchewan, where she was active in several local organizations, including the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church, Ukrainian Canadian Women’s Association, Beta Sigma Phi, and Eastern Star.
Bernie was widowed in 1962, at age 42, and raised three children, Joan, Betty and Don. She returned to Saskatoon to complete her degree in Dietetics, in 1966.
Bernie suffered from periodic depressions and was hospitalized on many occasions, where she made lasting friendships with hospital staff and patients alike.
Bernie played an early role in the planning and development of All-Saints Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church in Saskatoon.
She made many friends at Chalet Gardens, Primrose Chateau, at the Quality Care nursing home on Maguire, and at Extendicare on Preston St.
Bernie is survived by two sisters, Natalie Chernoff and Christine Cordon, and one brother, Nestor Michasiw, and is predeceased by her brother Orest Michasiw of Toronto.
She is also survived by three children, Joan (the late Gerald Taichman) Elizabeth (Ken Fong) and Don (Jan Hnatyshen), four grandchildren, Marsha, Jason, Jenna and Bensun, and three great-grandchildren, Kaylee, Juleanna, and Emma.
May there be something stronger than death, and may that be the presence of those absent, within the memory of the living.
May we learn to be the things we loved most about the people who have gone before us.
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