Obituary of Zenovia Lakusta

LAKUSTA: Zenovia “Jennie” Lakusta passed away peacefully in the Jubilee Home, Lloydminster, SK with her daughters by her side on Monday, May 22, 2006 at the age of 95 years. Jennie will be lovingly remembered and missed by her two daughters: Iris and her husband Harold Almond; and Lovette Dove; daughters-in-law: Elaine Lacusta and Anna and her husband Robert McCormack all of Lloydminster; six grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren: Owen (Lynn) Lakusta and their family, Candice (Tanner Daniels - fiancé) Talen and Tye; Gregg (Trina) Lacusta and their family Kiana, Ethan, Alexis and Chelsea all of Lloydminster; Perry (Janet) Almond and daughter Madison of Calgary; Alison (Rick) Edwards and son Ryan of Edmonton; Jason (Gina) Almond and son’s Zachery and Nicholas of Lloydminster; Tannis (Dion) Pollard and their family Lauren, Bryn and Brenden of Vermilion as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Jennie was predeceased by her beloved family - husband John in 1997, her two sons Peter in 1978 and Walter in 2005; her granddaughter Julie Lakusta in 2006; her parent’s Mary and Peter; three sisters: Ustena, Elizabeth and Martha and two brother’s John and Wasyl. The prayer service for Jennie was conducted from The McCaw Funeral Chapel, Lloydminster on Thursday, May 25, 2006 at 7:00 P.M. The eulogy was given by her grandson Jason Almond. The funeral service for Jennie was conducted from The All Saints Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Lloydminster, Alberta on Friday, May 26, 2006 at 10:00 A.M. with Father Gene Maximiuk officiating. The chanters were Helen and Nestor Zubreski. The crossbearer was her great grandson Talen Lakusta. The Honorary Pallbearers were her grandchildren: Alison Lacusta, Tannis Pollard, Lynn Lakusta, Trina Lacusta, Gina Almond, Janet Almond as well as all her great grandchildren. The active pallbearers were her grandsons: Owen Lakusta, Gregg Lacusta, Perry Almond, Jason Almond, Rick Edwards and Dion Pollard. Interment followed in The Lloydminster City Cemetery. McCaw Funeral Service Ltd., of Lloydminster administered the funeral arrangements. Eulogy as given by Jason Almond Today we gather to honor the memory of our mother, grandma, great grandma, auntie and friend. Jennie was born May 24, 1910 to Peter and Mary Kelly in the village of Berhomat in Bukovina, Ukraine. She was the fourth child of a family of six, three sisters and two brothers. At the age of eighteen, Jennie immigrated to Canada and worked in the Willingdon area, which is where she met her husband. Jennie and John were married January 25, 1930 and moved to the Sunnydale District south of Lloydminster. It was there that they raised their family of four: Walter, Peter, Iris and Lovette and spent many happy years developing their family farm. They enjoyed the younger years of their grandchildren at the farm and their home was an open house to relatives and friends alike, always lots of food, good times and fellowship. In 1971, they semi-retired from farming and moved to Lloydminster. Jennie and John were very involved in establishing the present Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Jennie enjoyed many hours with the ladies catering to numerous weddings, bake sales and other fundraisers. They loved traveling to B.C., North and South Dakota, and especially the trip to her birthplace in the Ukraine with her family. In their retirement years, they spent many days with friends picnicing and fishing at the North Saskatchewan River. As well, numerous summers blueberry picking and fishing at Loon Lake with their children and grandchildren. Jennie always took great pride in her big garden and grew beautiful flowers. Her love of making and giving perogies and cabbage rolls to all her family, and especially her talents of cross stitching, weaving and decorating pysanka, enabled her family to cherish many precious handmade treasures. Jennie’s love and patience for sharing these talents with her family was a very special gift which inspired us all. As a family, we cherish the special times shared together and the happiness she brought into our lives. When there was a new addition to the family, be it by marriage or the birth of a baby, Jennie was very loving in welcoming everyone like her own . . . and she loved her grand babies and great grand babies. In every situation she knew what to do and had that special touch which was so unique. We are thankful for her gentle love, which was so well expressed by all the little things she would do to bring joy to others. We are truly blessed and her memory will be everlasting in our hearts. The love, respect, dedication and faith Jennie and John held for God and their church was passed down to their children and grandchildren. Be a life long or short, its completeness depended on what it was lived for. Our departed loved one lived a complete life, so as Christians, we accept her eternal repose as God’s will and a well-deserved rest. Cards of Thanks We wish to express heartfelt gratitude for the love and kindness shown to our family during the recent loss of our dear mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. To Dr. Tom Cavanagh, our sincere thank-you and appreciation for the faithful care, respect and compassion you gave Jennie over the years. Our many thanks to all the staff at Jubilee Home for your loving care and understanding shown to Mom and our family. To Father Gene, our deep appreciation for your consoling message of faith at the services. Your loving words expressed in memory of our mothers life was so meaningful and a blessing to us. Our special thank-you to Chanters, Helen and Nestor Zubreski and crossbearer, great grandson Talen Lakusta. Love and thanks to the grandchildren and great grandchildren for acting as honorary and active pallbearers, also to grandson Jason Almond for giving the eulogy. Our sincere thanks and appreciation to Helen, Mike Kashuba and Keri for preparing and serving the delicious memorial dinner after the service. Also, to Mary Ference for baking the beautiful kolachi. To Dale and Dave McCaw and staff for your compassionate and guiding support, our sincere thanks. A special thank you to Diane Popoff and Gloria Weeres for all their help and to family, friends and neighbors for your prayers, visits, cards, beautiful flowers, memorial donations, gifts of food and loving support. “To all who have loved and shared in Moms life - we give our thanks.” Your thoughtfulness will be cherished and always remembered. Iris and Harold Almond Lovette Dove Elaine Lacusta Anna McCormack and all of our families Donations in memory of Jennie may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society, the Heart & Stroke Foundation or to a Charity of the Donor's Choice.